BENEDICT TEMBO, Lusaka
THE Bembas yet again maximised from their demographic dividend to win the 2017 annual golf contest against the Ngonis at Chainama Hills Golf Club in Lusaka on Sunday.

The Bembas, who draw their team from Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, ran out 476-417 during the 18-hole tournament to retain the shield.
But captain of the Ngonis Welani Chilengwe was not short of excuses for the loss to their traditional cousins and has threatened to petition the results in the Constitutional Court to expose their rivals’ monkey tricks.
However, his counterpart Chishimba Lumbwe was happy with the outcome as he hoisted the shield as his team members cheered.
Lumbwe said the tournament is significant because it helps to raise funds to run the junior development programmes at the club.
A record 24 sponsors contributed to the staging of the event which was, however, shunned as only 44 golfers entered on a weekend all the other two golf clubs were busy.
Harry Bwalya, Mwelwa Chundula, Michael Katongo and Chris Kabwe were among the top performers for the victorious Bembas while Josephat Jere, Peter Zimba, Thomas Phiri and Lawrence Ngoma topscored for the Ngonis.
Bwalya won the longest drive in the men’s category while Lorna Mwenda was the winner in the ladies section.
The event was kept alive by the stomping Ngoni warriors who sang and danced all day long.
Ngonis demonstrated generosity by rewarding their traditional cousins’ top dogs with packets of mice.