Zambezi Diamond Fundraising Golf Day

The Zambezi Diamond Fundraising Golf Day was held on September 14 at Ndola Golf Club, bringing together golfers, corporates, and philanthropists for a noble cause. The inaugural event raised K80,371, which will go toward renovating the Mother’s Shelter at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital, providing improved accommodation for mothers whose children are receiving treatment.

Over 10 companies participated, including Zanaco, Madison Insurance, Jordan Travels, Excel Magazine, Avani, Stanbic Bank, Bank of Zambia, Madison Insurance, and Northrise University. Tara Allin won the individual category with 41 points, while Zanaco topped the team event with 112 points.

Guest of Honour Dayne Moore, a professional golfer on the Sunshine Tour, commended the initiative and emphasized giving back to the community. Zambezi Diamond Chairperson Mr. Mbewe expressed gratitude for the strong turnout, noting that the success reflected unity between business and community in supporting social causes.

The hospital’s Head of Nutrition, Sukwa Musonda, appreciated the effort, saying the shelter had long needed renovation. Marketing Manager Victoria Siame announced plans to make the tournament an annual event, supporting different community projects each year.

Adding to the goodwill, Ndola businessman Gary Rutherford donated 20 x 20L tins of paint for the shelter’s rehabilitation, applauding Zambezi Diamond’s corporate social responsibility.

The Ndola Golf Club came alive on September 14 as golfers, corporates and philanthropists gathered for the first ever Zambezi Diamond fundraising golf tournament.

Despite being a first fundraiser under Zambezi Diamond, the event surpassed expectations as a total of K80,371 was raised from the participating companies and individuals. The proceeds raised from the event are earmarked for the improvement of the Mother’s Shelter at the Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital, a critical facility that provides essential accommodation for mothers whose children are undergoing treatment.

The tournament, which saw the participation of over 10 companies, was not just an event of competitive display but also a demonstration of the power of corporate social responsibility and community solidarity.

Although the tournament was primarily aimed at raising funds for a good cause, the competitive spirit of the golfers could not be subdued as they showed their skills on the course.

In the individual category, Tara Allin claimed the top spot with an outstanding 41 points. Loudy Simooya and F Ziba tied for second with 39 points, with Simooya edging out Ziba on countback.

In the team event, Zanaco emerged superior finishing top with 112 points and were closely followed by Madison Insurance who finished with 111 points and in third place was Jordan Travels on 107 points.

The day was filled with excitement and friendly competition, as companies from various sectors came together to contribute to a noble cause. The atmosphere was further enriched by the presence of the main guest, Dayne Moore, who despite suffering a sprained ankle before the event, stayed on to witness the proceedings and show his support for the cause.

Moore who is now based in South Africa competing on the Sunshine Tour is a Ndola Golf Club product and was excited to be part of the fun.

“I’m saying this straight from the heart. When Zambezi approached me to be on board and help bring in the numbers, I had to do it. It’s for a great cause at the end of the day. I also feel like with what golf has done for my life, it is also my responsibility to give back to the community in form,” Moore said.

He added that he was happy to return to the golf course he joined when he was eight years old and seeing familiar faces was heart-warming as he gets lonely in South Africa at times.

Zambezi Diamond Group chairperson expressed his gratitude for the support shown by the companies and individuals who participated in the event.

He admitted that being the first ever tournament he did not know what to expect but was happy that the event turned out to be beyond what he had imagined.

“I’m humbled by the turnout. This is the first time we are doing this and we didn’t know what to expect, but the turnout has been fantastic. I appreciate everyone who came today, and we’ve enjoyed a good game,” Mbewe said.

Mbewe also highlighted that the tournament was more than just a day of sport - saying raising more than K80,000 at one event is encouraging and showed that when individuals and companies work together, a lot can be achieved.

“It is a testament to what happens when business, community and compassion come together. At Zambezi Diamond, we believe that success is not measured solely by profit margins but also by the impact we make in the communities we serve,” Mbewe said.

Mbewe emphasized that the event is just the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at uplifting the community.

“We recognized that this task cannot be achieved by us alone and so we called upon other partners to help make this effort a success. I commend the sponsors, Zanaco, Excel Magazine, Avani, Stanbic Bank, Bank of Zambia, Madison Insurance, Northrise University and all the sponsors. This is not the end but the beginning. It is a partnership to contribute to the well-being of the community,” he said.

The importance of the Mother’s Shelter was underscored by Sukwa Musonda, the Head of Nutrition at Arthur Davison Hospital.

Musonda could not hide her appreciation revealing that the shelter has been in need of attention for a long time.

“We have had the Mother’s Shelter, but honestly, it hasn’t been in great condition and we are glad that they have taken a step further to look into that. Our children couldn’t get better if their parents are not in a better place,” Musonda said.

The renovation of the shelter will ensure that mothers have a safe and comfortable place to stay while caring for their sick children, providing peace of mind during a challenging time.

Zambezi Diamond’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Victoria Siame explained that plans are under way to make the event annually after receiving good response from partners.

She emphasized that mothers and babies need special care.

“It has been a successful tournament. The response by the companies and individuals to compete for a good cause is very encouraging. We know that these mothers need special care and a very good environment for their safety and health. This is the first fundraising tournament we are having, but looking at the response, we want to make it an annual event.”

“We should be able to identify an area of need every year and donate to it,” she said.

Ndola businessman Gary Rutherford put icing on the cake after he announced that he will donate 20 by 20 liters of paint towards the rehabilitation of the shelter.

Rutherford further commended Zambezi Diamond for the efforts the company has put in the Corporate Social Responsibility describing it as one of the best in Ndola.