Zimbabwe News Update
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4 min read
Stanford Chiwanga,Quality Editor
THE image of Highlanders players going on strike over unpaid signing-on fees is not merely a stain on the club’s reputation — it is a damning indictment of the leadership that continues to run one of Zimbabwe’s most iconic football institutions like a backyard tuckshop. With only three matches left in the season and the club teetering dangerously close to the relegation zone, this protest speaks volumes. These players are not asking for favours; they are demanding what is contractually and morally owed to them. And the question that must be asked — loudly and repeatedly — is: where has the money gone?
This is not a club scraping the bottom of the barrel. Highlanders has received a staggering US$500 000 from its chief benefactor Wicknell Chivhayo, delivered in two generous tranches of US$250 000. This money is part of a public commitment to inject US$1 million into the club by January next year. In short, Chivhayo has already funded player bonuses, signing-on fees, and infrastructure projects such as the perimeter wall at the Highlanders Clubhouse. He has done what no executive has managed in years — stabilised the club financially and restored hope among fans. This is in addition to support from other sponsors such as Sakunda Holdings and Better Brands. With such financial backing, the club should be thriving — not descending into chaos. So again, where is the money going?
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