President Lazarus Chakwera has said he believes that next year’s Presidential Charity Golf Tournament can raise K1 billion following the success of the 2024 contest.
This year’s tournament raised K609 million, surpassing the initial target of K600 million.
Chakwera, who took part in the tournament on Saturday, said it was possible to raise K1 billion to go towards needy students in public universities and also help Cyclone Freddy survivors.
“It is true that I am grateful for each of you for your support that has helped us break all previous records of the amounts we have raised, for we have now exceeded half a billion Kwacha in pledges, and I believe that, together, next year we will make history by breaking the K1 billion ceiling,” Chakwera said.
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He said it was important to support such initiatives to transform lives.
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“It is good for us who have a little something to help those in our country who have lost everything because the climate change disasters that befall millions of Malawians every year can strike any of us or our loved ones at any moment, not only destroying the livelihoods and assets we have spent a lifetime building, but also leaving us helpless and leaving our children without an inheritance.
“That is what Cyclone Freddy did to a million Malawians last year and that is what El-Nino weather has done to millions more this year. And by participating in this Charity Golf Tournament today, you have lit a candle of hope in the dark tunnel that our fellow Malawians have been going through ever since these disasters befell them. And for this, I thank you,” Chakwera said.
In the same way, Chakwera said those who had been through the hallowed halls of a university knew from experience that it was not easy or cheap to successfully study for a degree.
“So we should be the first to support those Malawians who have made it into university from under-resourced homes that struggle to sustain it,” he said.
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Presidential Charity Golf Initiative Chairperson Vizenge Kumwenda said funds raised from the initiative would be used for the intended purpose.
“The initiative has had a huge impact on needy students and those who survived natural calamities. I assure the sponsors that funds realised will be used for the intended purpose,” Kumwenda said.
NBS Bank plc, as diamond sponsor, pumped in K150 million, with other institutions also contributing towards the initiative.
During the tournament, Chakwera and NBS Bank Chairperson Vizenge Kumwenda, Chief Executive Officer Kwanele Ngwenya and Chief Operations Officer Shadrick Chikusilo were in the same team, which took almost seven hours on the greens.
