Chessam engages Kamuzu Barracks in tree plant
Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) on Friday planted trees at Kamuzu Barracks Secondary School in Lilongwe.
Chessam president Susan Namangale and other senior officials took part in the re-afforestation initiative.
The Chessam president, who is the 2018 Malawi National Sports Council’s Sport Awards Best Sports Administrator, said the initiative underlines the importance of trees to the communities.
She said: “Sports in general, would barely thrive if trees are depleted because our players need trees in one way or the other. Learners should make it a habit to plant trees not only at the school, but even in their communities.
“There’s also a connection between trees and the game of the chess because some of chess boards are made from trees products.”
Namangale promised to use part of the K500 000 prize for Sports Awards to plant trees in selected schools in Central and Northern regions.
She also donated two chess boards to the school.
In his remarks, head teacher Major Nkhoma Chulu commended Chessam for choosing Kamuzu Barracks Secondary School in the Central Region.
“We are greatly honoured for coming to our school with this afforestation drive. It is everyone’s responsibility to plant trees and make our town green,” he said.
Central Region Chess League (CRCL) chairperson Eddie Kulesi said Kamuzu Barracks Secondary School was chosen because it is one of the outstanding schools that promote chess.
“Their students have been outstanding in schools regional chess tournaments and they were the champions in Presidential Initiative on Sports [PIS] tournament a few years ago,” he said.
MNCS administration manager Henry Mereka commended Namangale for using sport to organise a tree-planting exercise.
“We are proud of what Susan Namangale has done, being the Best Sports Administrator Award winner for 2018.
“It shows that there’s more to sport than just playing the games,” he said.
The school’s student representatives, Artaxerxes Kalonde and Emmie Kasupe, hailed Chessam for organising the tree-planting exercise at the school.
They also said the donation of chess boards will motivate the students to play the game.
