•CHALABESA

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

THE Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) has banned sports associations, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) inclusive, from directly seeking for assistance from the Ministry of Sports.
Additionally, the SCZ will now be directing associations to draw up strategic plans before they can start accessing Government funds.
SCZ acting general secretary, Innocent Chalabesa said it was not in order for associations to bypass the Council, which is a Government’s wing on sports administration, to ask for assistance.
Chalabesa said the concern and proposal was raised during a meeting held with Sports Minister, Vincent Mwale last week. He said Mwale agreed with the stance taken by the SCZ.
“So as from now, it does not matter whether an association official knows the minister personally, but as long as the reason for going to the ministry has got to do with sports, they will have to come to us here first. This is for all associations and yes, it includes the FAZ,” Chalabesa said.
He said Mwale also urged the SCZ to start finding other sources of funding other than through the Government monthly grants.
Chalabesa said as a result, the SCZ will start meeting the corporate world to see how well they can partner in the development of sports in the country.
But FAZ general secretary, George Kasengele declined to comment on the new development.
On the need for strategic plans, Chalabesa said the minister ordered that for any association to draw money from Government, they will need to come up with a viable strategic plan as this was the only way sport will develop.
“It’s either the associations present a workable strategic plan or they will not be accessing any money from Government. The issues of transparency, accountability, discipline and openness will play in heavily.
“As former chairperson of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), he has warned that he would be very strict with associations’ use of public funds which they have to be accountable for,” he said.