Chimwaza wins NICO General Blackpool
Courtesy of The Nation Newspaper - 31/January/2009

Seventeen-year-old Ghimwemwe Chimwaza lived to his word and won the NICO General Insurance Limited ballpool in spectacular fashion at the fresh grown rough of the Blantyre Sports Club.

Just before he teed-off, the prospective Civil Engineering student said would conquer all before him, includ­ing his dad James. In the end did just that, it certainly doesn't get sweeter than this.

With a brilliant 21 points, the lad saw off a feisty challenge from 47 other golfers to win the showpiece.
He fared lustrously on holes three and six on which he had the long drives.

"It really helped me gain extra points. I also had two over par which is very good golf in a rainy season," he said with a boyish grin.

Chimwaza thanked NICO General Insurance for sponsoring the event and described the prizes as fantastic.
"I am still struggling to believe it's a Wednesday. It looks like a Saturday because the prizes are fantastic," said the young golfer.

He also paid tribute to his playing partners who included Chris Kapanga and Paul Kabangq.
"I would also like to acknowledge my father's support," he said.

For his feat, Chimwaza went away with an up-to-date home theatre and a golf shirt from the sponsors.
On second position counted in on 20 points was James Changa who counted out Webster Kaunga to third position. They each went home with microwaves and golf shirts.

Changa also had two clubs and was nearest to the pin on hole number five.

Masa Msungama made the longest drive on hole number eight.

BSC golf captain Bashir Shariff thanked NICO General Insurance for sponsoring the ball pool.

"Fantastic prizes, the greens are also improving, I am sure you had a wonderful time," said Shariff.
The company's assistant general manager for marketing and production Lester Chinyan'ganya thanked BSC for granting his company an opportunity to stage the ballpool.

"As NICO General we are excited to be here. As most of you know, this is our first time to have ball pool here at BSC. We hold most of our annual golf competitions in Nchalo where most of you participate," he said.
He also thanked the golfers for the huge turnout.

"Today is only Wednesday but the turn-up is overwhelming. We do not take your participation for granted. This is encouraging, we value your support," said Chinyang'anya amid a big applause.

He said his company decided to sponsor the ball pool as one way of thanking its valued customers for their support.

"There are eight non-life insurance companies in Malawi, but we know most of you insure with NICO General.

"We also want to use this as an interface through which we can receive feedback from you our customers on how we can improve our services," he said

Also present at the function was NICO General's general manager Eric Chapola.

Chimwaza wins NICO Ball Pool
Courtesy of The Daily Times Newspaper - 31/January/2009

Teenager Chimwemwe Chimwaza struck a superb performance on Wednesday afternoon to emerge a winner of this week's NICO General Insurance ball pool. Chimwemwe, who collected 21 points after beating a field of 48 golfers, finished two over par after having long putts on hole number three and six.

"I got two extra points. I had nice putts considering that this is rainy season. I played really well. It was my good day," an excited Chimwemwe said. The 17-year-old, already a household name in Malawi golf, received a home theatre from the sponsors for his outstanding performance displayed on a Blantyre Sports Club course.

He paid tribute to his father James, a veteran golfer and former Blantyre Sports Club captain, for giving him an opportunity to expose his emerging talent and fulfil the objective to grow the game in the country. Jimmy Changa came second after collecting 20 points counted in, while Webster Kaunga came third with same number of points but counted out. Changa also won two clubs and pocketed K4, 000 and finally scooped an award of nearest to the pin on hole number five. Masautso Msungama had_ the longest drive award on hole number eight.

NICO General Insurance Assistant General Manager for Marketing and Production Lester Chinyang'anya told golfers that his company has introduced three new products; Homesure, Livestock and Mthunzi policies. He said Homesure is a package policy that is specially designed to cover home-based risks while Livestock insurance covers farm animals that include cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses.

"This insurance is available to commercial farmers and organised individuals, insuring against actual cash lost following death and theft of the animal," Chinyang'anya said. For Mthunzi, he explained that NICO General is in banc-assurance arrangement with Opportunity International Bank of Malawi (OIBM) that if a NICO customer goes to OIBM as a loan client, the bank will not ask him or her to provide them with collateral because that particular loan is already secured by Mthunzi Insurance Policy.

"This is a new concept in Malawi and at the moment we are talking to other banks for similar arrangements," he said. He also disclosed that this year NICO General will cover tobacco, poultry, travel and damages as a result of political riots and strikes. "Our policies do not cover these types of risks. NICO General is in a position to get you cover for this risk." Blantyre Sports Club golf captain Bashir Sharrif thanked NICO for sponsoring the ball pool. "The event had fantastic prizes." He advised golfers to look after the greens and hope that most golfers will enjoy playing on the course.