Sports Minister Emmanuel Mulenga says it is unfortunate and depressing that FAZ has failed to fly the under 20 girls National team to Morocco after Government paid all logistical requirements in Morocco.

Mulenga said from Morocco where he is leading the Zambian delegates said the development is depressing.

He stated that government paid for the Under 20 trip to Morocco but that the team could not travel.

“We are here in Morocco where we have joined Team Zambia participating in the All African Games. We believe that sports is a skill that can help our boys and girls live their dreams. Our focus is not only football but all the sports disciplines in the country,” Mulenga said.

“We want to thank the National Sports Council, the National Olympics Committee of Zambia , the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association and other sports disciplines that are representing Team Zambia here in Morocco. It’s unfortunate and depressing that FAZ has failed to fly the under 20 girls National team to Morocco after Government paying all logistical requirements in Morocco.”

Meanwhile, FAZ says the girls failed to make the trip to Morocco because of Visa glitches.

In a statement, FAZ Spokesperson Mwazi Sakala said the Association failed to have the Visas for all yen girls processed on time and secure flights for all them.

Sakala said the team which camped in South Africa has since broken camp and arrived back home in Zambia, aborting the mission.

Below is the full statement from FAZ.

Press Statement
(For Immediate Release)
Football Association of Zambia
Football House,
Lusaka

19th August, 2019

UNDER 20 WOMENS TEAM BREAK CAMP, CALL OFF 2019 ALL AFRICA GAMES PARTICIPATION

The Football Association of Zambia wishes to advise the public that the Under 20 Women’s team has broken camp and regrettably will not be able to take part in the All Africa Games currently underway in Morocco.

FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala states that the Under 20 Women team were initially booked to travel directly from South Africa to Morocco but were requested to secure visa letters for entry into Morocco and so were re-routed back to Lusaka on 13 August 2019.

The Under 20 Women’s team recently participated in the inaugural Under 20 COSAFA Women’s tournament held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and were scheduled to proceed to Morocco for the 2019 All Africa Games, but due to the lengthy procedure in securing the visa letters, the team remained in camp for additional days and several adjustments to flight schedules were made to avoid a no-show situation for a second time.

As the visa letters were being processed, it became clear that the full team would not be able to travel to Morocco in time for them to meet competition fixtures due to non-availability of seats on flights.

The association has since decided to call off the trip to the All Africa Games on account of time and lack of space.

The team arrived from Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 13 August and failed to proceed to Morocco on the same day due to the non-availability of the visa letters.

Arrangements were made to re-schedule the flight for 14 August 2019 at 18:00hrs but the team was still without the visa letter and so the booking was cancelled.

The visa letters were received on 14 August 2019 at 22:00hrs at which time flights into Morocco were fully booked, with openings only becoming available after Tuesday 20 August 2019.

The Football Association of Zambia wishes the public to take note of the fact that despite every effort made and the huge costs incurred in securing tickets for the team, it was not logistically feasible for the Under 20 Women’s team to arrive in Morocco in time to participate in the competition and hence the painful decision to call off the trip.

The association has since communicated to the Ministry of Sports, Youth & Child Development and the competition officials.

The Football Association of Zambia regrets that Zambia will not be represented in the women’s football category but remain committed to promoting women’s football and commend the Under 20 Women’s team for their solidarity in this time.

We look forward to participation in the Olympic Qualifiers by the Senior Women’s team on 28 August at Nkoloma Stadium and in the COSAFA Under 17 women’s tournament to be held in September 2019.

For and on behalf of:
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA
Mwazi Chanda
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander Lieutenant General David Muma has challenged men and women in uniform to maintain high levels of fitness, using various sporting activities.Lieutenant General Muma Muma said fitness is a prerequisite towards attaining operational efficiency and effectiveness towards national duty.He was speaking today in Lusaka during the official opening of the ZAF Inter Units Sports competition, which has attracted participation from officers across the country.

The five days sporting event which runs from the 19th to the 23rd of August 2019 is being held under theme “Bringing personnel together through Sport.”

Lieutenant General Muma implored the officers to endeavour to be mentally and physically fit at all times.He noted that the effectiveness of officers is key in enhancing the operations of the Zambia Air Force.Lieutenant General Muma further urged the officers to emulate President Edgar Lungu who is a role model and dedicated sportsman.

Meanwhile Lieutenant General Muma added that the ZAF command attaches great importance towards the development of sports in the country.He said this can be evidenced from the large sums of money that have been dedicated to the improvement of sports facilities currently being manned by the command.
Lieutenant General Muma cited the construction and acquisition of gym equipment as one of the developments that has received substantial funding.

And speaking earlier at the same event, Chief of Training Brigadier General John Mulenga thanked the command for the logistic sport rendered towards the hosting of the annual inter-unit sports competition.He noted that the event is aimed at encouraging all Air Force personnel to take keen interest in all kinds of sporting activities in order to attain a high level of fitness which is cardinal for all military personnel.

Local Government Minister Charles Banda has declared Kapiri Mposhi town council as a Planning Authority.

The declaration has granted the council the mandate and authority to start approving applications for planning permission and take charge of development control in the district.

Until now, the Central Province Planning Authority was responsible for land administration and approving of applications for planning permission and development control in the district.

Dr. Banda has signed statutory instrument no. 43 of 2019 of the Urban and Regional Planning Act Number 3 of 2015 granting the Council Planning Authority.

This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS today by Kapiri Mposhi Town Council Public Relations Officer, Chris Mulaliki .

Mr. Mulaliki said the elevation to a planning authority will enable the Council to accelerate the process of approving development permits from investors and other developers.

The Ndola City Council would has denied allocating land to Chinese Nationals at Masansa Forest, opposite the New Medical Stores.

Following various media reports the Local Authority management and Mayor Amon Chisenga conducted a site visit last week in the accompaniment of Bwana Mukubwa Member of Parliament Dr. Jonas Chanda to ascertain the alleged land allocation to Chinese Nationals in the said vicinity.

During the site visit, beacons and limestone markings were noticed indicating that the site had been demarcated.

However, the technical survey by the Ndola City Council Planning Department has revealed that the area in question is in Luanshya District and not Ndola as reported by some sections of the media.

Ndola City Council Public Relations Manager Tilyenji Mwanza has clarified that it is not the planning authority for the said piece of land in question as the land falls entirely in the jurisdiction of Luanshya Municipal Council.

She said the Council has never planned, offered or demarcated land in the Masansa Forest neither has it facilitated for processing of any title deed and thus all reports pointing to the Local Authority are not true.

The Road Transport and Safety Agency working with the Lusaka City Council has started the placement of revised speed limits on selected roads in Lusaka following concerns raised by stakeholders.

This follows the conclusion of the review process of speed limits by the committee constituted by the Agency to undertake the exercise.

The adjustment for selected roads is from 40 KM/H to 60 KM/H, 60 KM/H to 80KM/H and 80 KM/H to 100 KM/H.

RTSA Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga said the process of installing the revised speed limits is underway beginning with Great East Road.

Mr Mubanga said the exercise will be rolled out to all the highways and the rest of the Provinces once resources are made available.

He has advised motorists to be cautious on the road and follow appropriate speed limits to avoid road traffic accidents.

The Ndola City Council has closed down six night clubs in the Central Business District and five others in Ndeke Township for operating beyond permitted hours.

The Local Authority that recently warned liquor traders to operate within the confines of the Statutory Instrument Number 64 of 2012, of the Licensing Act, Number 20 of 2011 on permitted hours will continue to police the district and will not take kindly to business owners expressing ignorance of the law.

Those closed down are Curious, East Point and E 10 night clubs as well as Viewers, Holings and Ethel Pashel pubs in Central Business District who were found operating way beyond their prescribed hours and without an approved extension from the council.

Council Public Relations Manager Tilyenji Mwanza said the Council also visited Ndeke Township and closed five bars at Chinda’s namely; John Mulele, Brimas, Marvin Chanda, Collins Besa and Diason Bar.

Ms Mwanza said all the 11 liquor trading places have been ordered to pay a penalty and will be watched closely.

She has warned the 11 that the failure to comply with the stipulated regulations in the act will result in the revocation of their liquor license.

Ms Mwanza has also warned alcoholic business operating premises that the Council will be taking necessary action against any premise that will be found operating beyond the permitted hours without an approved extension from the council.

“Be reminded that the permitted trading hours for a bar is 10.00hrs to 22.00hrs, Bottle Store (Retail liquor) 10.00hrs to 22.00hrs, Night Club/Social Club Liquor 10.00hrs to 24.00hrs while Wholesale is 08.00hrs to 18.00hrs”, she said

Meanwhile, Ms Mwanza warned residents against noise pollution especially those in the business of liquor trading.

She said the Council has noted that many retail liquor trading places are now turning their places into bars and polluting the environment with very loud music way above the prescribed decibel limit.

The Copperbelt University says K50 million is required for the stalled hostels construction works to resume.

Copperbelt University Directorate of Planning, Property and Services, Bernard Mabo says the stalled project four years ago is currently on care and maintenance due to lack of funds to pay the contractors for the works to resume.

Speaking in an interview in Kitwe, Mr Mabo said once completed, the hostel blocks at about 55 per cent works stage will be able to create over five thousand bed spaces which will help curb the current slightly over seven thousand bed space deficit at the institution.

The total project cost for both Riverside Campus and the Ndola medical School campus stands at K400 million.

He, however, stated that the Ministry of Higher Education recently sent some auditors to conduct an audit on the works done so that it could pay the needed amount for the works to resume.

And Mr Mabo has disclosed that the Ministry is still trying its level best to source funds from other partners to ensure that the contractors are paid the outstanding balance for the works done so far.

“The University is still looking for private partners who can invest in construction of student hostels under a private- partnership arrangement, “he disclosed.

Mr Mabo explained that the institution is currently in talks with other investors willing to venture into this partnership.

He appealed to other investors to partner with the Copperbelt University to construct the hostels, an investment he described as lucrative as student accommodation remains on high demand.

In 2015, the Copperbelt University embarked on a project to construct hostel blocks at Copperbelt University Main Campus in Kitwe and at the Ndola Medical School in a bid to cushion the students’ bed space deficit.

However, the project has stalled due to lack of funding from the Ministry of Higher Education.