• FOOTBALL Association of Zambia vice-president, Boniface Mwamelo (right) leads First Republican president, Kenneth Kaunda, Labour Minister, Fackson Shamenda, Sports Deputy Minister, Christopher Mulenga and other officials as they file past the tombs of the 1993 Gabon air disaster victims at the Heroes Acre in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by JEAN MANDELA.

By SANDRA MWILA-
FOOTBALL administrator, Ponga Liwewe has pledged to come up with a better way of commemorating the Gabon memorial for the fallen heroes who perished off the coast of Libreville in 1993.
And First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda yesterday passed through the burial site to pay his respects to the heroes whom he said were worth remembering for their contributions to both Zambian and African football.
Liwewe said in an interview during a low-key memorial held at the Independence Stadium burial site that he would take it upon himself with the engagement of the family members to come up with a better way of remembering the fallen heroes unlike always waiting for the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).
Yesterday’s memorial, which was the 21st anniversary, was only celebrated by family members and some sympathisers that started with a procession from Chaisa Township to Independence Stadium.
FAZ announced last year that it will be coming up with various events every five years unlike having an annual memorial programme.
“Going forward, effective next year, I will sit down with family members to agree on what type of memorial they would want to have for their loved ones than waiting FAZ to hold one every after five years,” he said.
Liwewe, whose father Dennis died on Tuesday and buried on Saturday, said the death of the 18 players and coaches was still as painful to him, especially that most of them were his personnel friends.
“We should not wait for the Government to do something for the families but as individuals let us do something for the men that died for the love of our great nation,” said Liwewe, who is also a Power Dynamos executive committee member.
Family representative, Martin Mutale said it would have been nice for Government and FAZ to commemorate the memorial with the families, especially that the country was celebrating its golden jubilee this year.
“We know Government and FAZ made up their minds to be celebrating this event after five years, but this year of the golden jubilee should have been an exception. We also want the report to be released so that we know what happened,” he said.
Daughter of the late Efford Chabala, Memory, said the Gabon disaster report does matter to the families that lost loved ones because it would make them know what really happened on that fateful night of April 28, 1993.
Zambia Sports Fans Association (ZASOFA) strongman, Peter Makembo called on Government to come out clean as to whether the report would be released or not so that the families can know.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kaunda, who went to the burial site late in the afternoon, was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Sports Christopher Mulenga, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda and FAZ vice president Boniface Mwamelo.
“This is an important day that we should always remember the gallant boys of Zambia and I am glad that we have established a place we can always come to and say ‘we are proud of you and will always remember you for the great job” Kaunda said.
A group of residents were also on hand to welcome Kaunda, who turned 90 years old yesterday, singing birthday songs.