Zambia’s President His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was the Chief Guest of Konkola Copper Mines and the Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) at the KCM 2016 Zambia Open Golf Championship on 5 June 2016 at the Nchanga Golf Club.

South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers was the eventual winner of the competition. Zambia’s leading professional golfer Madalitso Muthiya, upcoming young player Dayne Moore and leading amateurs Aaron Simfukwe and Patrick Mwendapole led the Zambia contingent.

President Lungu praised KCM for sponsoring a well organized and successful golf championship which attracted 101 golfers from countries such as South Africa, Brazil, Cyprus, Scotland, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

“I am glad that KCM has once again come on board to be the lead sponsor for the golf championship even during these difficult economic times. The event has been well organised,” the President said.

Mr Lungu said his government was impressed that some private sector firms like KCM were supporting sports development, including golf.

Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Mwale and Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) president Jason Kazilimani also praised KCM for staging the golf event under a harsh global economic climate.

Mr Mwale said KCM’s contribution to sports development was unequalled because it cut across several sports disciplines.

“KCM has continued to make a significant contribution to the development of sport in the country. The company sponsors football, other sports and is the lead sponsor of this golf tournament. This is a commendable job,” Mr Mwale told President Lungu and hundreds of people who gathered at the Nchanga Golf Club.

ZGU’s Kazilimani said KCM was a reliable and great partner of the golf union and that its involvement with the development of golf was massive.

“The ZGU is extremely grateful that KCM came on board to be the lead sponsor of the 2016 Golf Championship when the mines are facing some challenges due to low copper prices,” Mr Kazilimani said.

CEO Steven Din told President Lungu and others that KCM was proud to be the naming sponsor of the Zambia open.

“This is the third time in 10 years that we have held the Zambia Open here at the Nchanga Golf Course. KCM is the proud owner of this course, which is this year enjoying its 80^th anniversary,” Mr Din said.

“It has for decades been a most important sporting facility in this community. It has many times been acknowledged as a course of international standard and it has not disappointed us over the last week.”

Mr Din described the tournament as ‘an outstanding sporting spectacular.’

“Over the duration of this event, we have been honoured to see the highest standard of golf played here in Chingola.  Of course, we would all have loved to see a Zambian win this competition, but I firmly believe that holding international events like this are a great service to the development of golfing talent in Zambia,” he said.