Chakwera upbeat on K400m charity target

President Lazarus Chakwera has expressed optimism that well-wishers will support this year’s Presidential Charity Initiative Golf Tournament scheduled for October 7 and targeting to raise K400 million.

Speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Monday when the Vizenge Kumwenda-led fundraising golf tournament’s organising committee visited him, the President said last year’s tournament raised K281 million which made a difference in the lives of the needy including Cyclone Freddy survivors.

Said Chakwera: “As a result of your efforts, we were able to reach out to hundreds of victims of last year’s tropical cyclones with relief items such as blankets, maize seed and food materials worth K120 million.”

Kumwenda, speaking after the meeting, said the committee has already started approaching potential sponsors to fund the upcoming tournament.

“We came to brief the President on what has happened so far in preparation for the upcoming event and also to lobby him to participate in the tournament,” he said.

Chakwera has since accepted to participate in the entire 18-hole golf tournament.

Meanwhile, organisers have placed advertisements, announcing the opportunity for stakeholders to sponsor the charity event.

According to the announcement, there is one slot for diamond sponsorship at K100 million, two platinum category slots at K60 million each, four gold category slots at K40 million each and five silver category slots at K20 million.

There is also bronze category with five slots at K20 million each, five slots for zinc category at K10 million each and 10 slots of K2.5 million each.

Golf Union of Malawi president Gift Chidya Gondwe, a member of the organising committee, said these events play a big role in the promotion of golf in the country.

“The event will also enable us share with the executive progress made in the development of golf in the country,” he said.

The initiative was started with the aim of raising funds for charity by the President.