Zasaa Seeks K1.6 Million for Chainama Wards

Ms Mwamba said the refurbishment was intended to provide patients receiving mental health care with a more comfortable and dignified environment.

She identified water supply as one of the major challenges requiring attention and said the initial work would focus on repairing ceilings.

Ms Mwamba said the organisation would continue approaching sponsors and partners because proceeds from the golf tournament alone were unlikely to cover the full cost of the project.

She said ZASAA intended to make the charity golf tournament an annual event to sustain support for mental health care.

Ms Mwamba called on the government, businesses and other stakeholders to contribute money or building materials, saying collective support was necessary to improve conditions in mental health facilities.

She said the organisation’s efforts also extended to raising awareness about mental health challenges, particularly among young people, who often faced peer pressure and other difficulties.

Ms Mwamba urged parents to maintain open communication with their children and take their concerns seriously, warning against dismissing problems that could affect their emotional well-being.

She also called for an end to the stigma surrounding mental health, saying people should feel safe sharing their experiences and seeking help without fear of judgement or having their personal struggles exposed on social media.

Ms Mwamba said the tournament’s theme, “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay,” was intended to encourage people to speak openly about their mental health and seek support when necessary.

Rhoda Duthie, tournament director for ZASAA, said golf could help promote mental health and workplace wellness by giving people an opportunity to exercise, relax and temporarily step away from the pressures of daily life.

Ms Duthie said golf combined physical activity with time outdoors, making it a useful recreational activity for people seeking to improve their overall well-being.

“Golf is a sport that a lot of people play, but the aspect of wellness is key. When you are playing golf, you are walking and swinging, which makes it an activity that promotes wellness and health,” she said.

Ms Duthie said taking breaks from work and other responsibilities was important because people faced different challenges and pressures in their daily lives.

She described golf as a therapeutic activity that allowed participants to enjoy fresh air, appreciate nature and give their minds time to relax.

Ms Duthie said the sport could also promote team building by giving employees an opportunity to interact outside their usual workplace environment and strengthen relationships with colleagues.

She said the World Mental Health Golf Day was intended to encourage individuals and employers to make wellness part of everyday life, particularly in workplaces where employees faced stress and other pressures.

Gift Banda, president of ZASAA, urged young people struggling with drug abuse to seek help and speak to someone they trusted rather than suffer in silence.

Ms Banda said the tournament’s theme, “It’s Okay Not to Be Okay,” reminded people experiencing difficulties that they did not have to face their challenges alone and should seek support to improve their situation.

She said ZASAA was using its social media platforms to raise mental health awareness and encourage stakeholders to discuss the subject in workplaces and communities.

Ms Banda also urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s activities and the company they kept, warning against assuming that children who had grown older no longer needed parental guidance.

Catherine Namate Chinika, president of Rhodespark Lions Club, said the organisation had joined the initiative because mental health was one of the Lions Club’s areas of focus.

Ms Chinika said the club was supporting mental health awareness and the fundraising effort, with proceeds intended to benefit the mental health hospital and its patients.

She described mental health as a serious concern in Zambia and called for government involvement in addressing the problem.

Ms Chinika said mental health challenges could arise from various circumstances, including difficulties at home, inability to pay school fees, and problems in friendships and relationships.

She said such pressures could affect people’s emotional well-being, making early awareness and intervention important in helping them recognise challenges and seek appropriate support.

Ms Chinika urged communities to use educational materials and awareness campaigns to help people understand mental health and reduce stigma, adding that greater awareness could encourage those affected to seek help without fear of discrimination.

She said the Lions Club was also providing community health services, including blood pressure checks and eyesight screening, as part of its wider support activities.

Mike Njuki, a national committee member of Chainama Golf Club, said the club’s executive committee had turned out in large numbers to support the tournament after learning about its mental health cause.

Mr Njuki said golf offered an opportunity to relax, relieve stress, maintain physical fitness and build relationships.

He encouraged more people to take up the sport, saying it could help them connect with others while learning about challenges affecting their communities.

Mr Njuki also welcomed the organisers to use the golf course for future events, expressing the club’s willingness to support the initiative again.

Abby Richards, a golfer who participated in the tournament, said she had made time to attend because mental health was an issue that deserved regular public discussion.

Ms Richards said golf provided an opportunity for people to unwind, but the tournament had given the sport a wider purpose by creating space for conversations about mental health.

She said discussions of this nature could help people recognise that they were not alone in their struggles and that support was available.

Ms Richards said she valued the opportunity to interact with other participants, learn from their experiences and gain a better understanding of how to handle personal challenges.

She described the event as particularly meaningful because it brought together golf and real-life issues affecting people, adding that conversations about mental health should continue beyond the tournament.