NMS Infrastructure sponsored the Kondwani Dimitry Sakala Youth Rugby Tournament that was held in Lusaka on 24^th April 2021 as part of its CSR programme, honoring the life of the late Kondwani Dimitry Sakala.

The KDS tournament brings together youth rugby teams from across the Lusaka region, many of which come from a low standard of living and do not have the funds or access to basic services. This tournament thereby provides a platform for local youths to showcase their talents to rugby union leaders, improving the lives of the less privileged youth within the local community. It also serves to provide the opportunity for young Zambians to play rugby, who would not otherwise have access to equipment or facilities.

The promotion of health and wellbeing within the local community is of paramount significance to NMS Infrastructure. ‘We are grateful to the Zambian government for allowing us to build a lot of hospitals across the nation’, stated NMS Business Development Manager, Alistair Johnston, ‘it fits in well with our agenda which is health for the nation because it contributes to the development of the nation.’ NMS is passionate to continue to promote health and welfare within the country and viewed the sponsoring of the KDS Tournament as a fantastic way to give back to the local community.

The Lions Rugby Club hosted seven different teams from across Lusaka, with a total of 145 male and female players present between the ages of 11-16, helping to promote rugby in Zambia. Thirteen games were played in total, with the Rhinos Rugby Club emerging victorious to win a K1000 cash prize.

The event was attended by the Sakala family and friends, Lusaka Rugby Club members, Rugby Union members, press officials and NMS employees. NMS’s sponsorship helped with vital tournament preparations, as well as towards the provision of refreshments, music, and entertainment.

Lions Rugby Club official, Akim Kabemba, stated, ‘this tournament has been hugely beneficial to both the club and the community, bringing both male and female children together to showcase their talents in the game. We would like to thank NMSI for their sponsorship as it has really helped us as a club to put this tournament together as a great success.’

Meanwhile, Kondwani Dimitry Sakala’s father, Mr. Arundel Sakala, was also in attendance to honor his son’s life, stating, ‘I am really grateful and thankful for the sponsorship rendered by NMSI in sponsoring this colorful tournament and I know my son is the happiest where he is. God bless NMSI.’

NMS Infrastructure joined with The Bright Future Project (TBFP) in Zambia to sponsor a community-led Clean-Up Day in Chongwe on Saturday 13th March.

NMSI provided a contribution under its Built to Care CSR programme for the purchase of roofing sheets, gravel, heavy duty gloves, bin liners, trees and plants, for a team of community volunteers to undertake litter picking within the local province. The community team also planted an array of trees and plants to improve the area in which NMSI staff live and operate. As part of their mandate, TBFP participate in at least two community clean-ups each month.

In recognition of the success of the project, TBFP was invited by Chiefteness Nkomesha and Princess Nkomesha of Chongwe to visit The Royal Palace on Tuesday 16th March. The Royal Establishment of Chongwe expressed their gratitude to NMSI for supporting the community with environmental issues, assisting with the fight against climate change, and thanked NMSI for their sponsorship for the project.

TBFP’s agenda focuses on sustainable development through the creation of a circular economy and green practices. Ngozika Victoria Onyekwelu, founder of TBFP, strategized with The Royal Establishment of Chongwe on the issue of mass deforestation in Chongwe. The forest opposite the Chongwe Mini Hospital site, built as part of NMSI’s ‘Built to Care’ programme, has shrunk from 7,000 to 650 hectares and so TBFP has been tasked with suggesting alternative sources of income generation for communities that rely on charcoal burning for their livelihoods.