mbulelo smpofu
Innocent Kurira, innocent.kurira@chronicle.co.zw
HIGHLANDERS will hold an extra-ordinary meeting at the Clubhouse on Sunday, where the club’s constitutional amendment committee will present proposed adjustments to the constitution to bona fide members.
The meeting, which is closed to the public, provides an opportunity for members to debate and contribute to the proposed changes.
The constitutional committee is chaired by Nicholas Nyathi working together with Morgen Dube and legal expect Nqobile Sithole.
The working document, which was adopted by members in January 2006, has remained largely unchanged since then.
Notably, 2006 was also the year Highlanders last won the league championship.
In 2018, a proposed draft constitution, crafted by experts who were also club members, was rejected by the membership.
If the constitutional amendments are approved, some executive committee members will assume new roles. The treasurer’s position will be redefined as an executive member responsible for finance and chairing meetings related to financial matters.
The secretary will become executive member in charge of administration and marketing, while the committee member’s role will be altered to executive member responsible for technical and development.
The amendments aim to align Highlanders with the Confederation of African Football (Caf) club licensing requirements.
If approved, some of the proposals will see the chief executive officer no longer share responsibilities with the secretary, as is presently the case. Instead, the CEO will have clearly defined responsibilities, as required by Fifa.
Some members have raised concerns about the club’s dual power structure, which have been a source of conflict.
Highlanders has an elected executive committee, which serves for three years, and a board of directors, which is not elected and serves for an indefinite period.
According to the Highlanders constitution, the executive committee is responsible for the club’s management, while the board of directors provides guidance on policy formulation, strategic planning, and management.
However, some members have questioned the need for two power centres, which have led to conflicts and arguably impacted the team’s performance.
The proposed amendments also include the abolition of the secretary, treasurer, and committee member titles, as well as their roles. Furthermore, ordinary or life members attached to other clubs will not be allowed to participate in decision-making processes, such as voting, although they will retain their membership status.
Meanwhile, paid-up Highlanders members will convene at the Clubhouse on January 28 for the annual general meeting (AGM), followed by elections on February 2.
The posts in contention are that of the vice chairman and treasurer. Aspiring candidates must obtain nomination forms from the club office by January 18.
In a notice to members, executive secretary Morgen Dube outlined the details of the AGM and elections.
“Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the paid-up Highlanders Football Club members will be held on the 28th of January 2024 at Highlanders Sports Club at 9 am,” said Dube. “In conformity with the provisions of the constitution, elections for the office bearers will be conducted separately from the AGM business on February 2 at 10AM at the Highlanders Sports Club.”
Dube also emphasised that aspiring candidates must obtain nomination forms from the club office, for which a refundable fee of US$200 is payable, should the candidate poll over 10 percent of the total votes cast. Closing date for submission of the completed forms will be Saturday 18 January at 12 noon,” said Dube. – @innocentskizoe
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