Dear Highlanders FC
Recently, I came across a headline that the 90 year old darling of Bulawayo is in the brink of collapse because of a debt above $500 000 but below $1 000 000.
I might not be a lifetime member, a diehard fan or a regular at Babourfields (BF) but I believe for decades and decades the symbol of Highlanders has been used as an identity card by a lot of people from our beloved city.
This club is more than a team; its a culture, lifestyle and identity for a lot of people within Bulawayo , around the country and in the diaspora. I can dwell on the significance of the club and create 10 pages but I will not; I can focus on how your club has been home not only to the Proud Ndebele people but rather to all ethnic groups that reside in the region, (kalanga;Venda;Nyasaranda; Sotho;Tswana;Tonga;Shona etc) but I will not. The issue I want to contribute towards is the debt you have found yourselves drowning in. My suggestions or solutions to your Huge problem are as follows:
1) START A “SAVE BOSSO “CAMPAIGN / MOVEMENT -recently we all have seen the power of a # hashtag movement in the political discourse of the country. I urge the club to also start something similar. This will draw attention to the well wishers who will want to assist the club in its time of need. This initiative will also work well with my next suggestions/solutions.
2) HAVE DROP IN CENTRES – these will be places or corners where well wishers can drop any amount of money even as little as $0.50c to as much as their love for the team leads. You can set up secure corners or collector boxes for money. This initiative can run up to a month or so and I am sure after a month; the club will have raised a lot of money, the club will have raised a lot of money. These can be set up firstly around the city of kings and queens, around Matebeleland provinces, and around the country. On the issue of security for these structures; am sure the team has brilliant minds that can come up with strategies to manoeuvre such issues.
3) ELECTRONICAL DROP IN– to support or even further secure the above point; the club can set up mobile banking accounts with the country’s services providers (Econet-Ecocash; Telecel – Telecash;Netone- One Wallet). This will make it easy for people who cannot access the drop in centers to assist the team by sending or depositing any amount of financial assistance to the team. This will also make it easy for our family in the diaspora to assist.
As the slogan says; “Siyingqaba” we will surely conquer this minor pothole in the clubs’ quest for greatness to one-day be again truly” I Team yezwe lonke!” IBOSSO NGENKANI! AMAHLOLANYAMA AMAHLE!
YOURS TRULY
MARVIN R. MBEWE
(Proud Bulawayo Son)
