By SANDRA MWILA –

ZAMBIA today commemorates the 22nd anniversary of the 1993 Gabon Air Disaster victims in what would again be expected to be a low-key ceremony at the Independence Stadium burial site.
A Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane carrying the 30 passengers, who included 18 national team players, officials and five crew members, to Senegal for a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal perished off the coast of Libreville, Gabon killing all on board.
Today’s programme will start with a march past, to be led by the Zambia Sports Fans Association (ZASOFA) brass band,  from the Heroes National Stadium to the burial site.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and Government in 2013 announced that the official commemorations would be held every five years.
The players who died were Eston Mulenga, Richard Mwanza, Derby Makinka, Timothy Mwitwa, John Soko, Whiteson Changwe, Efford Chabala, Samuel Chomba, Kelvin Mutale, Godfrey Kangwa, Moses Masuwa, Patrick Banda, Numba Mwila, Winter Mumba, Kenani Simambe, Robert Watyakeni and Moses Chikwalakwala.
Officials included FAZ president Michael Mwape and committee member Wilson Sakala, coach Godfrey Chitalu and his assistant Alex Chola, team doctor Wilson Mtonga, Ministry of Sports Deputy permanent secretary Nelson Zimba and Zambia News Agency (ZANA) news editor Joseph Salim.
The ZAF crew had Colonel Fenton Mhone, lieutenant colonel Victor Mubanga, colonel James Sachika and warrant officer Edward Nambote.