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More than $22,000 was raised from the Kamandama Memorial Golf tournament held at the Hwange Golf Club on Saturday.
The money will be shared by the widows and their dependants as well as pay school fees for orphans and other underprivileged children in the district.
Hwange Golf Club chairman Victor Rakabopa’s committee had set a target of $18,000.
Last year $7,000 was raised at the same competition.
The tournament, held under the four ball better ball stableford format attracted 80 players from golf clubs around the country.
In his remarks, the newly appointed Hwange Colliery Company Limited managing director Thomas Makore, who also took part in the competition, thanked all corporate partners and the Hwange community for assisting the victims of the mine disaster.
“On behalf of Hwange Colliery, may I express my profound gratitude to our corporate partners and the community at large for taking part in this fundraising event. The economic environment is tough but you chose to be with us on this important day as we seek to raise funds to go towards the upkeep of the widows and the scholarship fund. There is no better way to network than to spend a day in one of the most difficult golf courses in the country,” said Makore, who has since assumed the position of Hwange Golf Club president.
Traditional major sponsor of the event Chaferfly Enterprises, one of the country’s leading suppliers of mining equipment and accessories, also pledged to continue partnering the Colliery in making the golf day bigger and better each passing year.
“We will always stand with Hwange Colliery as we play our part in corporate social responsibility initiatives through active and dedicated participation in such events which are of national importance. Next year we will look at new angles in order to increase our contributions for this worthy cause,” said the company’s managing director, Godfrey Nyakudya.
From outside Hwange significant donations came from Sakunda Energy, Care Insurance Brokers, Zimchem, Apollo Tyres, Zambia Furnace, Alexander Forbes, Mota Engil, ProPlastics, Sub Sahara and Quality Tyres.
Hwange companies included the Colliery, Chilota Colliery, South Mining, Chrome Base, Pepper Grinder, Nyamandlovu Backpackers, Capital Café, Well Woman, Enigma, Thulani Hotel, Sixnya, Turbo Mining, Otto Simom and Delta Beverages.
The golfing partnership of Vumi Moyo and Robson Dumani won the tournament 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.
On Friday, the guest of honour at the memorial Vice President Joice Mujuru donated blankets to all the surviving 74 widows.
According to the Kamandama Memorial Trust Fund chairman, Fati Mpofu, around $13,200 will go direct towards the widows welfare while $8,800 will be for the scholarship fund.
Seven underprivileged and orphaned children are benefiting from the fund.
derick.khumalo