Government says it is committed to the development of sport for the benefit of the Zambian child.
Sport, Youth and Child development Deputy Minister Patricia Mulasikwanda says this is because sports is essential for the mental and physical welbeing of the child.
Ms Mulasikwanda said it is for this reason that government will continue to invest in the development of sport in the country..
She said one such initiative is the “Focus on Youth Sport” pilot project, which targets in and out of school children under 12 years of age.
” This is because it’s government’s concern to monitor and coordiniate activities for its citizens, ‘ she said.
The minister said this when she officiated at the opening of a Canadian based organisation called the ‘Right to Play’ Head office in in Lusak’s Rhodespark area.
She said government appreciates the contribution of local and foreign sports organisations such as ‘Right to Play’ to the development of sport in the country.
Ms Mulasikwanda said her ministry has worked closely with ‘Right to Play’ since its arrival in Zambia in 2002.
Speaking earlier, ‘Right to Play’ country representative Joe Makono said his organisation is determined to use sport to empower Zambian children.
Makono said this is because sport plays a vital role of creating unity, love and understanding in communities.
He said sport could be used to empower children and youth to look after themselves.
The ‘Right to Play’ country representative stated that his organisation was also determined to use sport as a vehicle to develop skills and values for Zambian girls.
And one of the organisation’s coaches Kenneth Phiri said the organisation has
empowered a number of children and youth in Chikumbi area north-east of Lusaka.
Phiri said before the organisation begun operating in the area, a number of girls and boys were out of school due to a number of social- economic factors such as early pregnancies and child labour.
He however said the affected children had improved their school attendance and
performance since the programme was introduced in the area.
ZANIS
