Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE inaugural Zimpapers/NetOne Golf Day tees off at 9am on Wednesday at Hillside Golf Club in Mutare, with established captains of industry, emerging entrepreneurs and individual golfers expected to battle for top honours in what organisers hope will become one of the province’s premier networking and sporting events.
The tournament forms part of celebrations marking NetOne’s 30th Anniversary, a milestone that reflects three decades of the mobile telecommunications giant’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s communication landscape. Organisers say the event is set to become an annual fixture on the golfing calendar, providing a platform for business networking, brand visibility and relationship-building through sport.
A representative of the organisers, Eunice Sibanda, said the event seeks to bring together people from diverse sectors in an atmosphere that promotes both competition and collaboration.
“This is a special occasion that brings together NetOne and Zimpapers to host golfers from different backgrounds for a memorable day at Hillside Golf Club. As we celebrate NetOne’s 30 years of service, the event also provides an opportunity for participants to build meaningful business relationships and strengthen professional networks,” she said.
Sibanda added that the golf day reflects the growing role of sport as a vehicle for fostering partnerships and creating business opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Manicaland Golf union has intensified efforts to broaden participation in the sport by targeting emerging and young businesspeople across the province.
Hillside Golf Club president, Mr Caleb Kunze, said the union is implementing an aggressive membership recruitment drive aimed at making golf more accessible while strengthening ties with the local business community.
“As the Manicaland Golf Union, we have launched a programme designed to bring more members of the business community into the game of golf. The business environment has changed significantly over the years. While golf previously relied heavily on support from large corporates, we are now seeing the rise of many emerging businesses that also have the potential to contribute to the growth of the sport,” he said.
Kunze said the initiative seeks to dispel the perception that golf is reserved for an exclusive group of people.
“We want people to understand that golf is not a sport for a closed community. Emerging entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals all have a place in the game. Through our business league concept, companies and individuals can sponsor specific holes and use the platform to market their brands while engaging with potential clients and partners.” He noted that many promising entrepreneurs possess the capacity to support and participate in golf but have traditionally had limited exposure to the sport.
“These rising businesspeople have enormous potential, but historically, very few people have reached out to them. We believe that by bringing them on board, we can create stronger networks and broaden the support base for golf in Manicaland.”
Kunze revealed that the recruitment drive has also been prompted by changes in the club’s membership profile over recent years.
“Over the past three years, Hillside Golf Club has lost several prominent members due to retirement, relocation and other factors. As a result, we are focusing on recruiting new members while also encouraging junior golfers to join the sport.
“A larger membership base will strengthen the club, improve participation levels and enhance our ability to host successful fundraising tournaments and other events in future,” said Kunze.
He added that engagement with the local business community remains one of the union’s key priorities.
“One of our major objectives is to build stronger relationships with both established and emerging businesses in Manicaland. Through these partnerships, we can grow the game while creating valuable networks that benefit the wider business community,” said Kunze.
