Vice-President Saulos Chilima has said he is confident that the K1.8 million shortfall towards ailing journalist Limbani Moya’s kidney transplant will be raised within the next few days.
Chilima said this on Friday evening at Blantyre Sports Club during the prize presentation ceremony of a fund-raising golf tournament organised as part of the drive by Friends of Limbani to raise K10 million for the transplant in India.
After the function, the committee disclosed that it had raised K8.2 million towards the cause.
“I would like to give an assurance that by next week, the shortfall will be found,” said Chilima, who was the guest of honour at the event and also teed-off in the morning.
He also applauded Moya’s sister for offering her kidney to save the life of her brother, saying she had shown love.
Hotel Victoria was the biggest donor towards Moya’s cause. Having made a K1.5 million donation, its director Furkan Gani also won an auction to sit next to the Veep at K400 000. The hotel also offered a de luxe room that was auctioned at K100 000.
The other major sponsors were Countrywide Car Hire which donated K1 million and golf shirts for the competition. Lab Enterprise (K570 000), National Bank of Malawi (K500 000), Macra (K250 000), Nation Publications Limited (K200 000), FD Communications and Sunbird Hotels and Resorts (K140 000 each).
Wesley Mataka also bought a seat next to the Veep at K400 000. Other individuals who contributed through auction conducted by John-Gift Mwakhwawa were MRA commissioner general Ralph Kamoto, hip-hop music star Tay Grin and sports administrator Dean Pinto.
Friends of Limbani chairperson Anthony Kasunda thanked the Veep and all those who contributed towards the cause.
“When I was assigned to speak to the Vice-President, I was not sure where to start from. But surprisingly, without thinking twice, he did not hesitate to accept and through an SMS, he responded: ‘Will do bwana. We have to save a life. We have to stand by one another.’ It was really touching,” said Kasunda.
