By BRENDA KATONGOLA -
FORMER President, Kenneth Kaunda feels Zambia has the potential to win medals on the international stage if the Michael Sata-led Patriotic Front (PF) Government can revisit some of the programmes initiated by his administration.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to promote the inaugural Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation (KKCAF) fundraising golf tournament scheduled for the Lusaka Golf Club tomorrow, Kaunda said he believed Zambia had a chance to win medals if the Government could revisit some of the programmes that include physical education (PE) in schools and community sports.
Asked what he feels the Government can do to regain its lost glory in sports on the international scene, the country?s first President said Zambia?s youth population has grown tremendously from the time the country attained political independence from Great Britain on October 24, 1964, hence the need to harness sports development programmes for children at every level.
He said previously, sports in schools and the community was a priority and Zambia produced many reputable athletes as a result adding; he had hope that the PF Government would revisit some of the programmes initiated by his Government.
?Whenever I go around various areas of Lusaka, the first thing I look out for is the population of the children. It makes me feel so sad that there are many, many young children and my concern is what we should do to bring them up in the field of sports.
I am sure this Government will revisit some of those programmes we started and the children involved in some of them,? said Kaunda, who has a passion for golf and football.
On the announcement by the Government to waive duty on imported sports equipment recently, Kaunda who expressed ignorance on the move was excited by the gesture.
?Oh they did? When did that happen? That is very good news, very good news indeed. It is the first time it is happening in the history of our country,? said the former President, who seemed surprised.
Kaunda said with the waiver on importation of sports equipment brought into the country, it will create a lot of opportunities to get many youths involved in sports activities.
He said clubs and other companies that deal in sports could even offer to train children, particularly in the field of golf, which is always referred to the world over as, a sport for the elite in society.
?It is a very welcome move because some clubs that offer to train children in various sports disciplines like golf; can now be able to afford to buy this equipment.
He said golf was not taught in schools, but suggested that golf clubs around the country can buy equipment cheaply and start running programmes to train young children golf skills.
Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda on October 12, 2012 during his presentation of the 2013 national Budget to Parliament, announced the suspension of duty on all imported sports equipment for three years in order to encourage private sector participation in sports development.
Chikwanda said the PF manifesto alludes to the importance of sport in shaping the fabric of life through recreation and healthy living saying; as a way of promoting private sector participation, the Government decided to waiver duty on sports equipment brought into Zambia.
And Yvonne Sakala reports that Kansanshi Mine, a First Quantum Minerals subsidiary, has pledged K10 million towards the hosting of the inaugural Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation golf tournament to be held at the Lusaka Golf Club tomorrow.
Source: http://www.times.co.zm/?p=17863
space shuttle new york courtney upshaw russell wilson catch me if you can delmon young arrested the raven the raven
No comments:
Post a Comment