Concerns have emerged over the handling of sponsorship funds at Highlanders FC, with insiders raising questions about possible conflicts of interest involving Jabulani Nkomo, son of the late Vice President John Landa Nkomo, who was appointed to oversee financial disbursements linked to businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
Chivayo pledged a US$1 million sponsorship package to the club last year, aimed at supporting its operations amid financial challenges. As part of the arrangement, Nkomo was appointed curator to help manage and oversee the funds in coordination with the club’s executive.
The appointment was presented as a mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability. However, multiple sources within the club now allege that the process may be falling short of those expectations.
At the centre of the concerns is a landscaping tender for the Highlanders clubhouse, where quotations seen by Nehanda Radio (first published by sports journalist Tafadzwa Chigandiwa) list Nkomo as the client.
The documents, from LOC Distributors Zimbabwe, relate to the supply and installation of kikuyu lawn across three football pitches.
Two separate quotations, one totalling US$64,515 and another US$58,650, have raised questions about pricing discrepancies and procurement procedures. The combined value exceeding US$120,000 has triggered scrutiny from insiders who fear possible inflation of costs.
Further concerns have been raised over the construction of a durawall at the same premises, reportedly linked to Nkomo. Sources claim the project, which remains incomplete, is believed to have cost approximately US$109,000.
Critics argue that Nkomo’s reported association with a company involved in bidding for projects funded through the sponsorship could present a conflict of interest, particularly given his oversight role in the disbursement of funds.
The developments have added to growing debate around governance and accountability in the use of private sponsorship funds within Zimbabwean football.
The sponsorship arrangement traces back to June 2024, when Chivayo committed US$1 million to Highlanders FC, including an initial US$250,000 disbursement, with the remainder expected to follow.
Separately, in October 2024, Chivayo donated US$250,000 to a trust established in honour of the late John Landa Nkomo.
He also gifted Nkomo’s son, Jabulani, a Ford Ranger Wildtrak valued at approximately US$80,000, moves that underscored the close ties between the businessman and the Nkomo family.
