By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

BADMINTON Zambia (BZ) vice general secretary Betty Simbeye has died.

Simbeye, 46, who was also African Badminton Women Council (ABWC) committee member, died on Saturday evening at Ndola Central Hospital after an illness.

Her younger brother, Bennett Simbeye, who is TIMES OF ZAMBIA staffer, said the funeral was being held at Plot 5859 in Itawa, Ndola and that the burial programme will be announced later.

Simbeye was a prolific player for Ndola City Council and also represented the country at various international competitions in from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s.

And BZ general secretary Kingsley Mulenga said the death of Simbeye was a great loss to the badminton fraternity.

Mulenga described Simbeye as a dedicated and committed administrator whose desire was to see the sport improve at all levels.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss, as you know she was one our committed executive committee members. She would sacrifice her resources and time just to attend to issues pertaining to the sport, especially when it came to fundraising for different programmes and we will greatly miss the services she rendered to the association,” he said.

Badminton World Federation (BWF) development manager Ian Wright in his message of condolences to BZ, said Zambia had been robbed of a dedicated administrator.

“We are shocked to hear of Betty’s passing, she was a dedicated administrator and we wish the family and the Zambia badminton body God’s guidance through this trying moment,” he said.