The Institute of Marketing in Malawi (IMM), a locally recognized and registered marketing body dedicated to promoting, enhancing and regulating the marketing profession in Malawi, organized a ‘Swing to Serve’ Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday to raise funds for Salima District Hospital.
The tournament, held at Lilongwe Golf Club, was part of IMM’s Annual Conference Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at procuring essential medical equipment for Salima District Hospital, one of the key referral facilities serving communities in Malawi.
Speaking after the tournament, IMM President George Damson explained that the event served not only as a networking platform for Malawi’s corporate and marketing professionals, but also as an opportunity to drive meaningful social impact by contributing to the health sector.
“We are going to host the 2025 Marketers’ Conference and Marketing Excellence Awards at Sunbird Livingstonia in Salima from October 23rd to 26th. What we do annually is that wherever we hold our Annual Conference, we implement CSR initiatives that impact the local communities,” Damson said.
“Last year, we were in Mangochi where we conducted CSR activities. For Salima, this is our second time, but we have chosen a more sustainable approach to supporting them. Previously, we would provide groceries and food items, but this year we have decided to purchase medical equipment that they desperately need.”
The hospital submitted a budget of approximately MK13 million for essential equipment, and Damson noted that the golf tournament significantly contributed toward meeting this target.
When asked about the specific amount raised through the tournament, Damson declined to reveal exact figures but emphasized that additional support is still welcome.
“The door remains open for others to support this cause. We are committed to ensuring that all the critical equipment listed by the hospital will be purchased before the conference takes place,” he said.
“I cannot provide specific figures because we have just concluded the competition and need time for reconciliation. Additional support is still coming in, but the response looks promising.”
Damson expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that 44 teams comprising 88 golfers participated in the event. The impressive response has motivated IMM to make the tournament a permanent fixture on their calendar.
“I would like to thank the golfers, but more importantly, the companies that sponsored the tournament,” he added.
The tournament received substantial backing from several companies. National Bank of Malawi contributed MK800,000, while Standard Bank provided the largest cash sponsorship of MK1.2 million. NBS Bank and HLB each contributed MK1 million to the cause. Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve offered four exclusive accommodation vouchers for tournament winners.
Additional sponsors included First Capital Bank, FDH Bank, Nico One, Golf Union of Malawi, E.D Logistics, GFK Security, Vanguard Life Insurance, and Hallmark.
Lusungu Chisi, Tourism Manager for Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, explained their motivation for supporting the initiative: “We have been partners of IMM for about a year now. When they approached us about doing charity work with proceeds from the tournament, we decided to partner with them and support the event.”
“We are very excited. It’s been a beautiful day with golfers and marketers turning out in large numbers, along with other partners providing sponsorship. It’s been an excellent opportunity not only for engagement but also for raising awareness about partnerships and collaboration among marketers.”
The tournament concluded with Kelvin Mpanje and Alick Dzonzi emerging as winners, followed by Catherine Mkandawire and Margaret Sadrake in second place, and Stafford Mpoola and Anthony Kasunda in third position.
Second-place finisher Margaret Sadrake, who hails from Salima, expressed deep satisfaction with the tournament’s charitable purpose and donated her prize back to the cause.
“Charity tournaments mean a lot to me. Those who know me understand that charity work is at the heart of what I do. Since IMM is raising funds for Salima District Hospital and I come from Salima, I felt compelled to donate my prize so that everything benefits people in my community,” she said.
Sadrake encouraged fellow golfers to participate in similar corporate social responsibility initiatives, emphasizing their potential to uplift Malawian livelihoods.
The 2025 Marketers’ Conference and Marketing Excellence Awards will take place at Sunbird Livingstonia in Salima from October 23-26, 2025.
