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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Kamandama Memorial Golf Tournament has been described as too ‘‘elitist’’, a development that has seen it being shunned by the generality of the community who cannot afford the requirements of the game.
It is meant to raise funds for the widows and orphans of the 1972 Kamandama mine disaster in Hwange that saw 427 miners perish underground.
This year, $22,000 was raised with vice-president Joice Mujuru donating blankets to all the 74 surviving widows.
“We feel there is a need to have even the general workforce participating in these fundraising activities. There is nothing wrong with the golf tournament but how many of us can afford that,” said a member of the workers committee.
He said a football match between Hwange FC and an invited team from outside the town could be another activity that the company could introduce so that the community feels part of the family and can also take pride in that they too would have donated to a worthy cause.
Fati Mpofu, the Kamandama fundraising committee chairman and a senior executive at the company, concurred that there is a need to involve the community and with funds permitting they might consider that in future. “With the golf tournament, the company relies heavily on donations, in cash or kind while the golfers fund their own trip. Yes, there might be a need to have say a soccer match but where will the money to host the invited team come from? If we get an underwriter who will agree to take care of those expenses then most certainly we will have something for them,” said Mpofu.
However, unlike in previous years, this year there were other sporting events at the Old Stadium that had the place a hive of activity, even though the event was simply for entertainment with nothing being donated to the fund. The golf tournament was won by Vumi Moyo and Robson Dumani with a score of 50 points.
Coming second after losing on count back were Getrude Katsidzira and Agrippa Marangwanda.
On third position at 49 points were Cephas Ncube and ladies’ captain Terry Tshamala.
Losing on count back to settle for fourth position were Diamond Jackson and Jones Dube. In fifth position were Matron Mguni and Charles Kolosa.
Online Reporter