I WAS priviledged to watch the  Inter-district games for Central Province schools hosted at Kabwe Secondary School.
It was amazing to see rural pupils from as far as Luano District reaching the finals in the Under-17 soccer category.
However,the participation in in-indoor games such as badmitton and table tennis was extremely poor.
It is unacceptable that districts such as Mkushi,Serenje,Kapiri Mposhi and Mumbwa which have very big boarding schools with large school halls suitable for in-door games could not form teams to participate.
l hope the Ministry of Education reprimands officials from these schools for failing to implement Government policies on sports.
Schools are the foundation of Sports in every country.
It is unacceptable that some sports disciplines are dying a natural death.
l urge the Ministry of Sports to serious take interest in the manner sports are being managed in schools.
The days of sending more officials than participants to international events must come to an end.
We need all games to be active in all schools.

Disappointed  Parent
KABWE

Watch Ngoni, Chewa rivarly

I DISAGREE with the former Luangeni MP Angela Cifire’s statement that Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo and Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani exhibited gross unprofessional conduct in the manner they recently cancelled Paramount Chief Mpezeni’s meeting in Chipangali area.
The cancelled meeting was the latest in a long dispute between two rival groups.
Security forces have struggled in the past to prevent the near-punch-up scuffles in Chipangali.
With elections due next year in Zambia, there are calls for the local chiefs’ tiffs to be addressed urgently in order to ensure peaceful polls.
The country may have a reputation for peace but the news from Chipangali is of hatred and potential violence.
There are deep fears that a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between two ethnic groups, the Ngoni and the Chewa, may spiral out of control despite preventive measures by the Police Service.
There are a number of other chieftaincy disputes in Zambia which have yet to be resolved. Next year, 2016 being an election year makes the situation even more volatile.
Unless the Government tackles the disputes with more urgency Zambia has a great deal to lose. It will take back the credibility we have earned since 1991 in the nurturing of a democratic system that is beginning to be admired by many nations.
So for peace-loving Zambians, dealing with these traditional conflicts becomes a national priority.
Admittedly, Zambians are proud of what is a relatively peaceful country. But the news of chiefs’ land rows and their ethnic superiority complex in Eastern, North-Western and Western provinces is, for some people, a sign that peace should not be taken for granted.
The example of what’s happening in Burundi proves that a reputation for stability can all too easily be shattered.
CONCERNED
CITIZEN