HIGHLANDERS members yesterday were up in arms against the board. This was precipitated by the board’s perceived failure to explain treasurer Odiel Nkomo’s reasons that led to his resignation in October last year.
REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
First in the firing line was board chairman Dumisani Sandi, who was absent at yesterday’s annual general meeting (AGM) that was held at Highlanders Sports Club, with his report read on his behalf by fellow board member Mgcini Nkolomi.
Board member Omega Sibanda questioned where Sandi was as the board chairman had failed to attend three previous important meetings and yesterday’s AGM.
“The chairman did not attend last year’s AGM, the fund-raising meeting that was held here at the beginning of last year, he was not there at the mid-year EGM last year and he is not here today (yesterday). The board has failed to explain other issues that involved money and now you are failing to deal with Odiel,” Sibanda said.
Sandi’s statement read: “Midway through the season your board had to deal with a very unfortunate incident which involved the former executive treasurer Odiel Nkomo.
“As members should now be aware the man has since resigned from office. It all began as a case of insubordination on the part of Mr Nkomo when he disregarded an order given by his superior executive chairman (Peter Dube) not to retrieve what he claimed to be a loan to the club. The issue degenerated into a misdemeanor after a similar order was repeated by me as board chairman as we both felt that the action was unprocedural.
“Unfortunately, as has always been the case, once these issues are leaked to the media, the matter got out of hand before certain claims could be verified. A forensic audit was commissioned, resulting in invaluable information being released, including measures designed to detect any misdemeanours. However, the audit was non-committal as to whether or not club funds had been embezzled. It was thus your board’s view that going officially public would not be in the interest of your club and that doing so would only serve to create lucrative avenues for our enemies.
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“We therefore wish to enlist your concurrence to this direction on the clear understanding that stricter observance shall be maintained of the International Controls and Designs as pronounced by Mssrs Philip Ndlovu in association with Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants, Zimbabwe.”
Nkolomi was at pains to explain the matter, instigating a flurry of hard-hitting questions from the club members. The members concurred with Sibanda on the issue demanding that the board be clear on Nkomo’s case.
George Dube felt the board was not sincere on the matter.
“The board is not telling the truth. We agreed at our last meeting that whoever had a case to answer must be taken to the police,” Dube said.
Nkululeko Fuzwayo had this to say: “Did Mr Nkomo steal or not? We must not drag his name into the mud if he did not steal. The board must be clear on whatever Grant Thornton are saying on whether he took money or not.”
Nkolomi said the auditors stated that there were transactions with Nkomo’s company amounting to $80 000, but said the accountants did not say he had stolen or not, save to say the accounting system at Highlanders was not in order.
This was amid bickering from some of the members among the more than 200 members that attended the meeting.
Another member said: “We have no confidence in you as the board. As a board, you are not doing your job very well.”
The members were calmed down by executive chairman Peter Dube, who pleaded with them to let the case rest for the progress of the club.
