NOT NECESSARILY SPORT by MARC POZZO
This last weekend was rather hectic for yours truly. On Friday I was up at 4am, as I am every day to prepare for my radio commitments. However, this Friday was a little different as I was teeing off at Borrowdale Brooke Country Club for the TM Pick ‘n Pay Annual Charity Golf Day. What a super morning to be out in the fresh air playing golf at 7am.
My four ball included the Managing Director of TM Pick ‘n Pay, Malcolm Mycroft. Malcolm is import and has been steering the Pick ‘n Pay ship very successfully since his arrival from South Africa. His only downfall is that he supports Manchester United!
In a week that has seen stress levels pushed to their limits, price increases, commodity shortages, obscene profiteering from certain retailers; a game of golf was well in order. This is an annual event where the focus is on TM Pick n Pay giving back to the community. The full field of 200 players, mostly suppliers, all contributed in some way or another. The day’s format was a Mystery Alliance. This is the first time I have ever played this format, and wow, it really is a winner. When you get to the green, the flag has a note attached indicating how the score on this hole should be calculated, for example; player A’s score, plus player D’s score should be added together. Different permutations for all 18 holes made it a very open playing field, and there was little opportunity for the usual “pot hunter’ suspects to fiddle the final result. Highly recommended for corporate and charity golf days.
My role for the day was not over, as I was the MC that evening at the “Shebeen Party”, which was the theme for the evenings prize giving. The tent decor, was outstanding and hearty congratulations are due to the responsible individual. As this was a charity event, the nominated beneficiary was the Rainbow Children’s Home, who gratefully received a cheque for $50 000; no mean feat in today’s environment. The Rainbow Children’s Home is a partnership between the Meikles Foundation and Round Table Zimbabwe to assist pediatric cancer patients in Zimbabwe. With a staggering mortality rate of approximately 75 percent, childhood cancers in general and particularly in greater Harare and the rural community Zimbabwe are on the rise. Children from this hard hit economic sector are most vulnerable, relying on an inadequate government healthcare delivery system, with ill-equipped health centres, insufficient trained staff in oncology, resulting in late detection and diagnosis. In addition, a limited number of operational cancer treatment centres (currently only one based in Harare that dispenses chemotherapy) and an inconsistent supply of drugs due to the harsh economic environment contribute to the high mortality rate.
Some of the major hurdles in treating child cancer patients include the cost of the stay of the child and a parent in Harare; transport costs; hospital fees; medical treatment; medication and chemotherapy, combined with the cost of accommodation and living expenses in Harare. These costs contribute greatly to the reason some families opt not to seek treatment initially and fail to maintain the very necessary follow up treatment and monitoring. Often the care-giver or parent will sleep on the floor in the wards in order to be able to pay for medical treatment. Lack of funds for long stays in hospital together with the demand for beds result in children often being discharged immediately after receiving treatment to make the long journey home with a compromised immune system.
Against this backdrop there was an overwhelming need identified by the various stakeholders in childhood cancer for a clean, nurturing home for children to recover.
The Rainbow Children’s home was constituted in February 2018 and is headed by Chairperson Soraya King. Thanks to the generosity of Roundtable Zimbabwe, they have a home, with the generous donation of their old clubhouse. This, however, comes with a condition of ensuring that sufficient funds are in hand either in cash or kind for the renovation, refurbishment and administration of the home.
The design for the building incorporates a central courtyard, a better flow of electrical and plumbing and the use of cost effective material – Stumble bloc – for a quicker build. The Rainbow Children’s Home will cater for eight children plus their care giver/parent with individual double rooms, sufficient ablutions per gender, common dining/recreation area, modern kitchen to prepare healthy meals, separate facilities for a ‘Home Mother’, offices & reception. The grounds are sufficient for an external play area.
The Home will be staffed by suitably qualified personnel and operated by a Management Team of which Trustees from the Rainbow Children’s Home will be part.
All credit to TM Pick ‘n Pay and the Meikles Foundation for putting their money where their mouth is. At the same time, in a week where certain supermarkets decided to inflate prices to a ridiculous level, TM Pick ‘n Pay stood by their customers and suppliers and maintained prices. All credit to them. All in all, a good week for this chain. Consumers don’t forget, and TM Pick ‘n Pay can be commended for standing tall against all adversity.
The evening was then filled with some brilliant comedy from a rising star stand-up comedian, Long John. We then danced the night away to the Rusike Brothers who actually celebrated their 30th anniversary as a performing group. My Saturday saw a quick trip to Victoria Falls with a friend and his son who had never seen the falls. It was a busy day with a walk and delicious lunch at “Deans” in the Village Walk, then onto the Riverside Brewery for a few home brews of some really delicious barley hops and water! Then an evening boat cruise on the Zambezi River, to watch the sun go down on one the Seven Wonders of the World. Sunday up early and off to see the mighty Victoria Falls. What amazed me was the volume of tourists in the town. It was buzzing with people from all over the world, despite shortages in the shops and long fuel queues. So good for our country to see this and all the new bars, eating places and activities being added to a buzzing town. From our walk around the Falls, we headed back to our accommodation, at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. A truly remarkable Lodge and wonderful experience. At 1.00pm daily they have the feeding of the Vultures. What an amazing experience to watch thousands of them descend for a meal. It is a must see if in the Falls. From there back to the airport and my sense of humour failed as FastJet had no jet! Flight cancelled. Their customer service needs serious attention, as they will never get my business again that’s for sure. Anyway, eventually we jumped onto “Scare Zim “and they did us proud and delivered us home to Harare. Back in town on a sporting front – the Warriors delivered with a win in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo 2-1. Then the Cheetahs lifted their first Africa Men’s Rugby Sevens title in six years, following a shock 17-5 win over continental heavyweights Kenya. It then got better, as brothers Benjamin and Courtney Lock combined to win their fourth International Tennis Federation Futures doubles title of the season together, after rallying to clinch the $25 000 Lagos Tennis Open in the Nigeria on Saturday…
That was a great weekend.
Managing Director of TM PICK N PAY Malcolm Mycroft speaking at the Prize Giving
