.Mwale

By FELIX MALUNGA –

NEWLY-APPOINTED Sports Minister, Vincent Mwale has promised an all-inclusive approach to Zambian sports development as he takes up the mantle from Chishimba Kambwili, who was moved to Information and Broadcasting Services.
President Edgar Lungu yesterday appointed Mwale, the youthful Chipangali Member of Parliament as Sports Minister when he finalised his Cabinet line-up.
In an interview after being sworn in Lusaka yesterday, Mwale thanked God and President Lungu for the privilege he was given to save the nation.
He said his ministry would provide an enabling environment for sport to thrive and that he would have an open-door policy for all disciplines.
Mwale, a sport enthusiast, said he would get down to work immediately and pomised to work with all professional administrators from sports associations.
“I am humbled to God and President Lungu for being given this task to save this nation. About 60 per cent of our population are young people and most are active in sport. Sport is very loved in this country. We shall do everything to provide an enabling environment for sport to thrive.
“We will get on with work and we will coorperate with professional bodies like FAZ (Football Association of Zambia) and other associations. It’s an opportunity to excel in sports development,” he said.
FAZ president, Kalusha Bwalya welcomed the appointment of Mwale, saying he was good for football and sports development in general.
Kalusha said in an interview from Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday that Mwale was a football enthusiast who had on several occasions accompanied the Chipolopolo on international assignments and also had an insight on football matters.
He said FAZ was pleased to have Mwale as minister and hoped he would continue and improve from where Kambwili left.
“We look forward to work with him. We are excited, it’s a new chapter and hope he will continue from CK (Kambwili) and improve not only football but sport generally,” Kalusha said.
The 1988 African Footballer of the Year said FAZ would do everything possible for the advancement of football including attracting more commercial partners to support the development of the sport.