adminSikhumbuzo Moyo
PREPARATIONS for the second edition of the Zimbabwe National Army Charities Golf Challenge that will be held at Harry Allen Golf Course on 24 August are going on very well, a senior army officer has said.Speaking during a Press briefing at Bakers Inn’s Lennard Bakery Factory on the progress of the preparations yesterday Chief of Staff (Administration and Staff) at the army headquarters in the capital, Trust Mugoba said indications are that the event will be a resounding success.
Bakers Inn are the official partners of the ZNA Charities Golf Day and their marketing executive Zenzo Malunga also attended the briefing.
“It’s really promising to be a successful event. I am satisfied that things are moving well and we would also like to thank all our partners including the media for that.
The media has been one of our major partners in this campaign,” said Mugoba who was sitting next to the chairman of the local organising committee for the event Brave Matavire as well as Ronald Nyanduki, who deputises Matavire.
Also present at the briefing was the head of the army organising committee secretariat Fabian Chitungo.
Mugoba said the golf challenge comes after another fundraising event that pitted Bulawayo soccer giants Highlanders and army club Black Rhinos at Barbourfields Stadium.
“We remain grateful to the Highlanders management because not only did they participate in this year’s match, they have since agreed to participate on an annual basis,” said Mugoba.
A field of 100 golfers are expected to tee off with 15-four-team members having already confirmed participation, including the army team that will be led by the ZNA commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda.
The army has five charities which are Tsanga Lodge Convalescent Centre in Nyanga which is for the rehabilitation of injured members of the uniformed forces. It also has ZNA Benevolence Fund for the welfare of troops on internal, external and international operations. The ZNA Schools of Welfare Trust, which has a total of five secondary and 12 primary schools.
The last ZNA charity is the Widows and Orphans which takes care of widows of soldiers before they receive terminal benefits.
“Our immediate need for Tsanga Lodge is to develop it into a self-sustaining institution. We have acquired a field for potatoes which needs to be fenced, we also have a fish pond and the fish need some food.
If we manage to get these projects running then I am sure the place will be self-sufficient,” said Mugoba.
The army school now pays school fees for over 340 pupils and they now need to increase that number to around 500.
Speaking at the same occasion, Matavire said they were expecting about 300 delegates at the dinner dance that will be held in the evening after the afternoon of golfing.
“All arrangements for the dinner dance are in place. A single chair goes for $75 while a table of 10 will be going for $750,” said Matavire.
A minimum of $10 000 is expected to be raised on the day.
Last year Hwange based Cephas Ncube and his teammates, Francis Mukhetiwa, Charles Rhubunya and Johannes Mutamba won the tournament after scoring 103 in total. On second position with 94 points was Bishop Mhlanga, Christopher Dzene, Jonathan Jere and Themba Ncube while Rennie Terrie, Nikki Hooper, Revitt Carmen and Di Kessen where third with a total score of 90.
Most golfer prize went to Shepherd Huni, Tiago Da Cunha and Bruno Da Cunha with Mehul Patel getting the nearest to the pin prize.
Online Reporter