Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE National Employment Council for the Funeral Industry (NECFI) will hold the second edition of its Mental Health and Wellness Golf Tournament at Chapman in Harare on October 9.
The proceeds are set to support the psychiatric annex at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The tournament will run under the theme, “A Swing for Mental Health Resilience, Building Resilience, Breaking Stigma and Promoting Well-being.”
NECFI chairperson, Nhamo Kwaramba, said preparations for the tournament were at an advanced stage following the success of its inaugural edition last year.
“This is our second edition of the golf tournament being organised by the National Employment Council for the Funeral Industry,” said Kwaramba.
“We started last year and it was a success. This year, we are again in high gear and have done a lot of preparations.
NECFI general-secretary, Letwin Sigauke, said the initiative seeks to promote open conversations around mental health while challenging the stigma often experienced by people living with mental health conditions.
“As an employment council, we are concerned about the well-being of workers and the communities in which we operate,” said Sigauke.
“We want to break the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage people to discuss the subject openly.
“Mental health challenges should not be something that anyone feels ashamed of because mental well-being is important to workers, families and communities.”
Sigauke said the timing of the tournament was significant as it comes on the eve of World Mental Health Day, commemorated globally on October 10.
NECFI golf chairperson, Dr Chomi Makina, said the organisers expected strong participation from the corporate sector, with several activities lined up on and off the course.
“This edition is going to be exciting.
“We are going to have several activities on the course, including a hole-in-one competition, and we have received considerable interest from corporates.
“We are looking forward to a large field of players.”
Dr Makina said corporate participation was driven by a responsibility to give back to the communities from which funeral assurance companies draw their business.
“Corporate social responsibility motivates companies to support initiatives of this nature,” she said.
“The premiums come from the community, so it is important that we give something back and allow communities to benefit from some of the proceeds.
“Workers in this industry are also affected by mental health challenges, and we want to promote wellness. Our core business is insurance, not death. People live first and die later, and while they are living, they need to be well.”
