Government is contemplating setting up a sports fund in order to finance soccer activities in the country.
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development Acting Permanent Secretary (PS) Alfonso Banda says the fund will cater for football activities for the Zambia national soccer team.
Mr. Banda says his ministry is looking at better ways of financing soccer which allegedly takes the lion’s share of the ministry’s total budgetary allocation to sports disciplines.
He said this in Lusaka today when he and his team appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sport chaired by MMD I’kelengi Member of Parliament (MP), Elijah Muchima.
Mr. Banda told the committee that some ministry funds are diverted to finance Chipolopolo boys’ activities at home and abroad.
He further disclosed that 20 percent of the ministry’s total budget goes to the welfare of children.
And the committee heard that Katombora reformatory school, which was established in 1957, is the sole institution for convicted juveniles.
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development Child Welfare Officer Lackson Chipampe explained that Nakambala and Insakwe in Mazabuka and Ndola districts respectively were just correctional institutions.
Mr. Chipampe has since appealed to the government to construct more prisons for the juveniles who come into conflict with the law.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development was working closely with the Ministry of Community Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs to address the juvenile justice system in Zambia and challenges surrounding children.
And Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sport chairperson Elijah Muchima called on government to urgently review the archaic laws.
The committee learnt with shock that juveniles, who are convicted by courts around the country other than those in Katombora in Kazungula district of Southern province, are subjected to inhuman treatment unless they are transported to Katombora reformatory school.
Mr. Muchima has since summoned the substantive Permanent Secretary Agnes Musunga to appear before committee on Tuesday 27th January, 2016 to respond to some alleged audit queries.
Meanwhile, Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister Vincent Mwale is expected to present the child code bill in the next sitting of parliament.
Parliament resumes sitting on February 9, 2016.
Summary: Government is thinking of acquiring a huge loan & say that it’s for funding sports, meanwhile we already know what they’re up to. 2 steps ahead of these thieves.
i would like to be a minister of Education. My goal will be to upgrade all educational buildings around the country. Consequently, I would set up standards for all participants in the industry. Issuance of licenses would require ensuring that the facility is fit for the use of a Zambian human.
It is about time we paid attention to things that matter. Education sure does.