By SANDRA MWILA –

THE Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), has pledged to sponsor Catherine Phiri’s tertiary education once she completes her secondary school studies.
ZICTA consumer protection officer Edgar Mlauzi said this yesterday when the company donated K30, 000 towards the staging of Catherine’s World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight Interim Gold title fight against Christina McMahan of Ireland.
Catherine, who is the WBC bantamweight silver champion, will fight McMahan on May 2 at Mulugushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka.
Mlauzi said at a Press briefing yesterday that ZICTA and Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion (OQBP) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to send Catherine for tertiary education.
“We have signed an MOU with OQBP that will see us sponsor Catherine for further education once she completes her secondary level. We have picked on her because she is a role model to most youths and has managed to balance her education with sports,” he said.
Catherine is also ZICTA child and online protection ambassador spearheading the campaign against internet abuse.
ZICTA director support service Mofya Chisala said Catherine’s conduct befits that of a role model hence their zeal to support her education.
“We did our research and Catherine’s conduct befits that of a role model and she sends the right message to the youths, “he said.
Catherine thanked ZICTA for their gesture to help her advance her education and promised not to disappoint. She said she will work hard and expressed happiness that her tertiary education was guaranteed.
“I want to thank ZICTA for their gesture to sponsor me for further education, I promise not to disappoint,” said the Zambian boxing heroine.
Meanwhile, OQBP manager Christopher Malunga said the stable was facing a K220, 000 deficit from the K600, 000 budget unveiled to host fight but was optimistic that the budget will be met before May 2.