President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the inaugural Presidential Golf Day taking part in the tournament’s Presidential Putting Green Challenge at Royal Harare Golf Club last week.
The initiative’s aim was to raise funds for the ED-UNZA Scholarship Program which was established in November 2019.
Over 150 golfers took part in the event and Charles Makombe was the inaugural winner of the Presidential Putt Out Challenge.
Mnangagwa who had his first experience playing golf was delighted with the experience and hailed the efforts to use sport to send young people to school.
“I have never played golf before but I think I have done better than those who play. It’s quite interesting, with the relaxation, you know. Everything goes out of your mind when you are considering this little ball,” he said.
“Well, this is to promote the sending of students (to school). The members of the golf club want young people to go to school and so they will give them scholarships,” he said.
Royal Harare was delighted to host the head of state for the first time through the event.
“The President is a resident just next door, and it is the first time the President of the country has been at the golf course and hit a few shots, which is an inspiration for a lot of young sportsmen,” national team coach and club director Simon Murungweni said.
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“It is a good combination in the sense that it gives young people hope, it gives young people something to aim for, it makes young people stay healthy, and over and above that, sport is about competition with the rest of the world.
“So I’m quite certain when a lot of young people see that the President is actually taking an interest in the sport, that will have quite a lot of motivation for the sport,” he said.
Top amateur golfers such Keegan Shutt and Darlington had the privilege to play alongside the President.
The scholarship Program currently benefits 66 students pursuing studies in law, medicine, and sciences was established to develop tomorrow’s leaders and help the most deserving students from impoverished backgrounds attain a higher education.
The program supports 10 learners from each of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.
Speaking at the prize giving ceremony at State House, Mnangagwa said the focus of his administration was to create a knowledge driven economy.
“My dear countrymen and women, the importance of a country’s education system in guaranteeing sustainable economic growth cannot be overemphasized.
“In light of this, we continue to support the education sector towards nurturing competitive, productive and skilled young people who have innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets that can help grow our economy, produce products and services.
“To this end, I consider education and development of innovation, science, technology as some of the key drivers of industrialisation and promoting socio-economic growth in our motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.
