SECOND REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPORT, YOUTH AND CHILD AFFAIRS FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE TENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON 24 TH SEPTEMBER, 2009
Consisting of:
Mr L J Ngoma, MP, (Chairperson); Dr B E Chishya, MP; Mr E M Munaile, MP; Mr V Mwale, MP; Mr B K Mweemba, MP; Mr B M M Ntundu, MP; Mrs J C Mumbi– Phiri, MP; Mr S Sikota, MP.
The Honourable Mr Speaker National Assembly Parliament Buildings LUSAKA
Sir
Your Committee has the honour to present its Second Report for the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Assembly.
Function of the Committee
2. In accordance with the National Assembly Standing Orders, the functions of your Committee are to:
(i) study and report on the mandate, management and operations of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, departments and agencies under its portfolio;
(ii) carry out detailed scrutiny of certain activities being undertaken by the Ministry, departments and agencies under it’s portfolio and make appropriate recommendations to the House for ultimate consideration by the Government;
(iii) make, if considered necessary, recommendations to the Government on the need to review certain policies and existing legislation;
(iv) examine in detail annual reports of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, departments and agencies under its portfolio and determine whether the affairs of these bodies are being managed according to relevant Acts of Parliament, established regulations, rules and general orders:
(v) consider any Bills that may be referred to it by the House.
1 Your Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs also enjoys all the privileges, immunities and powers of a sessional committee as provided for in the National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act Cap 12 of the Laws of Zambia and the National Assembly Standing Orders.
Meetings of the Committee
3. Your Committee held sixteen meetings during the year under review.
Programme of Work
4. Your Committee considered and adopted the following programme of work for the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Assembly:
(a) consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the First Report of the Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs for the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Assembly;
(b) study of the Development and Management of Football in Zambia;
(c) tours of the following:
(i) football facilities in Lusaka Province, Central and Northern Provinces
(ii) football facilities in Accra, Ghana
Operations of the Committee
5. Your Committee requested detailed memoranda from Permanent Secretaries of various ministries and chief executive officers of corporate and non– governmental sports organizations on the management and development of football in Zambia.
2 PART 1
Consideration of the Topical Issue
The Management and Development of Football in Zambia
6. Your Committee, concerned about the current low levels of football performance in the country, resolved to carry out a study of the management and development of the game.
The main objective of the study was to:
(i) examine the policy, if any, on the general development and management of football in Zambia ; (ii) identify the key players and structures for the development and management of football in Zambia; (iii) examine key coordinating mechanisms that exist between the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and other key stakeholders; (iv) identify the main activities being carried out to promote football at community level and in the institutions of learning; (v) examine the role of the cooperating partners in the development of football in Zambia; (vi) identify the constraints, if any, impeding the development of football in Zambia; and (vii) determine the way forward
The following were invited to submit on the topic:
(i) the Permanent Secretary - Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development; (ii) the Permanent Secretary - Ministry of Education; (iii) the General-Secretary – National Sports Council of Zambia; (iv) the General-Secretary – Football Association of Zambia; (v) the Chairperson – Power Dynamos Football Club; (vi) the Chairperson – Nakambala Leopards Football Club; (vii) the Chairperson – Amakumbi Stars Football Club; (viii) the Chairperson – Mongu Youth Sports Academy; (ix) the Chairperson – Chawama Youth Sports Academy; (x) the Head Teacher – Mwinilunga High School; (xi) the Chief Executive Officer – Barclays Bank of Zambia; (xii) the Chief Executive Officer – Zambian Breweries (PLC); (xiii) the Chief Executive Officer – Multi Choice Zambia (Zambia); (xiv) the Chairperson – Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association; (xv) the Chairperson – Press Association of Zambia (PAZA); (xvi) the Chairperson – Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA); (xvii) the Chairperson – Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZaFCA); (xviii) the Chairperson – Referees Association of Zambia (RAZ); and (xix) Mr D Liwewe – Former Football Administrator / Journalist.
3 Government policy on the development and management of football in Zambia
7. Your Committee was informed that the National Sports Policy provides a framework for the development of an effective collaborative mechanism of all stakeholders in football development. This was in order to attain an active, healthy and productive society. The Policy was in line with the national long term vision (the Vision 2030), the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Policy focuses on major priority areas, which include infrastructure development, sports equipment, capacity building, community sport, commercialisation of sport, anti-doping in sports, inclusiveness of people with disabilities in sports and physical education. The objective was to provide a comprehensive policy for excellence and full participation of all in sports development to ensure an active, healthy and productive society. This applies to all national sports associations, including the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).
The Ministry noted that national sports associations were the umbrella organizations for the individual sport disciplines. These were the key agencies responsible for the implementation of the National Sports Policy. The National Sports Policy, therefore, mandates national sports associations to decentralize their administrative structures to provincial and district levels. This allows them to contribute positively and effectively to the development of sport throughout the country. Specifically, the national sports associations are responsible for the activities set out below.
(i) Sport development programme planning and administration
This includes the following activities:
• developing and implementing short, medium and long term strategic plans for sports development programmes and ensuring professional administration and effective modern management systems;
• promoting and facilitating the formation of sports clubs and devising strategies for capacity building at all levels e.g administrative and management structures; and
• developing and implementing community and mass participation programmes aimed at increasing participation rates within their chosen sports disciplines.
4 (ii) Establishing talent identification programmes and promoting the development of sports competitions
This includes the following;
• working closely with learning institutions to establish talent identification programmes and offer specialized services;
• creating linkages with regional, continental and international sports authorities to enhance the standard of their sport;
• enhancing the establishment of Centres of Excellence in selected schools; and
• mobilising the resources for sports programmes and tournaments.
(iii) Human Resource Development
This includes the following activities:
• developing and implementing human resource development programmes;
• collaborating with regional, continental and international sports bodies, including sport specialists with respect to coaching, administration and, refereeing, management and other training needs;
• developing and implementing a national accreditation scheme for coaches; and
• coordinating volunteer training programmes and developing strategies for recognition and retention of volunteers.
(iv) Sport Promotion
This includes the following activities:
• creating linkages with the media, sponsors, private sector and general citizenry to enable them support and appreciate the value of sport as a tool for socio-economic development of the country;
• encouraging the participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in society; and
• ensuring that all sports programmes, activities and functions include HIV and AIDS and anti-doping in their sports awareness campaigns.
5 Key players and structures for development and management of football in Zambia
8. Your Committee was informed that the following were the key players in the development and management of football in the country:
• Government through the Ministries of Sport, Youth and Child Development; Education; Local Government and Housing; Home Affairs; Defense; and Science and Technology and Vocational Training;
• Regional and international sports organisations such as the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), African Football Confederation (CAF), Federation Internationale de Football Associations (FIFA) and the International Olympics Committee (IOC); and
• the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and the following Members who form up the FAZ Council:
- Youth Football/Sports Academies - Sponsors - Media Organisations - Football Fans - Schools Sports Associations - Zambia Basic Schools Sports Association - Zambia Football Coaches Association - Referees Association of Zambia - Zambia High Schools Sports Association - Community Football clubs under the Sport for all programme - Local Authorities
National Level
Your Committee was informed that at National level, the Football Association of Zambia, through the Super League, runs the Premier Division and Divisions I, II and III Leagues.
Provincial Level
At the provincial level, FAZ, through, the Provincial Football Associations ran the Provincial league for amateur football teams within the provinces. The Provincial Football Associations are affiliated to FAZ.
District Level
At the District level, the leagues are run through the District Football Associations who in turn were affiliated to their respective Provincial Associations.
6 Community Level
At community level, football was, mainly, run through the Sport for all Programme which was under the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. Other players in football development at this level included sport non-governmental organisations and sport academies such as Edu-sport and Chiparamba Sports Academy.
Key coordination mechanisms between the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and other stakeholders
9. Your Committee was informed that FAZ operates under an approved Constitution, consolidated by specific rules and regulations as well as a Code of Conduct. The Constitution outlines the composition of the FAZ as set out below.
The FAZ Council
The FAZ Council is a policy making body composed of all members of FAZ.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee acts as the Management Board. It supervises the FAZ Secretariat, makes rules and regulations and stands in for the FAZ Council in between Council meetings.
Standing Orders Committees
The Standing Orders Committees are constitutional bodies that assists the Executive Committee in various aspects of FAZ operations. There are also adhoc committees formed for specific assignments and projects.
FAZ Secretariat
Your Committee was informed that the Secretariat is a full-time organ headed by a General Secretary. It is the implementing body of the Association and it deals with the day to day operations. Likewise, all FAZ member clubs and associations have their own constitutions which guide their operations. Other stakeholders outside the FAZ football family are guided by their corporate management and control systems.
The main activities being carried out to promote football at community level, in the institutions of learning and at National level
10. Your Committee was informed that FAZ uses various mechanisms and activities to promote, coordinate and develop the game of football in Zambia. Chief among these are the mechanisms set out below.
7 FAZ Leagues and Cup Competitions
FAZ runs leagues from the Super Division to Division III as a way of promoting football in the country. Divisions II and III have reached all provinces except Northern Province where Division III could not take off in 2009 because the mechanism to regionalize it was still being worked out.
League football and cup competitions are identified as some of the best means of improving football standards and performance in the country.
Training Courses
Your Committee was informed that human resource development was key to the development of football. In this regard, FAZ regularly organizes various levels of courses in administration, coaching, sports medicine and refereeing. This was done in conjunction with FIFA, CAF, IOC and the National Olympics Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) to ensure that all aspects of the game developed in tandem. FAZ also conducts courses, seminars, workshops and meetings in all aspects of the game to ensure that the administrators, coaches, medical personnel and referees, who were unable to attend internationally offered CAF and FIFA courses, are trained locally. In addition, a number of administrators, coaches, medical personnel and referees are sent out of the country for advanced and long term specialist courses.
When need arises, FAZ sends out circulars and letters to its affiliates to explain specific developments and to announce amendments in the laws of the game and in the CAF and FIFA statutes, rules and regulations. Major decisions made by FAZ are also communicated in this way.
Press Conferences and Briefs
Your Committee was informed that FAZ conducts weekly press briefings to inform the press and, through the press, the general public, on the developments in football. Such briefs affords the press a chance to ask questions for clarification. Press conferences are also held to announce serious occurrences affecting the development of football.
Community football and football in the Institutions of Learning
Your Committee was informed that community football and football in institutions of learning was, mainly, achieved through the Sport for All Programme. This was a programme ran by the Department of Sports Development in collaboration with the National Sports Council of Zambia. However, this programme has been affected by the low budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. National sports associations are encouraged to work in close collaboration with institutions of learning. This partnership would help to identify talent in young footballers and to develop them.
8 The role of the private cooperating partners in the development of football in Zambia
11. Your Committee was informed that private cooperating partners play a big role in the development of football in the country. Their roles range from providing sponsorship, assisting with infrastructure development, player and coach development and provision of sports equipment. The following cooperating partners play various roles as follows:
• Nike, a sports wear company, sponsors all National Team kits and paid the teams for using its materials;
• Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) sponsors the leagues and provided prizes for FAZ Leagues;
• Super Sport International sponsors live television coverage of Super Division matches and make funds available, which are shared among all participating clubs;
• Toyota Zambia have sponsored (one-off) a National Team bus;
• Barclays Bank sponsors the Barclay’s Cup Competition;
• FIFA and CAF provide grants, sports equipment, coaching courses, seminars and workshops to FAZ and its affiliates; • First Quantum Mines sponsors the Senior National Football Team;
• British Petroleum (B.P) Zambia sponsors the Senior National Football Team;
• Zambia Breweries (PLC) sponsors the Senior National Football Team;
• Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) sponsors a Premier Division Team, ZESCO United;
• Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) sponsors a Premier Division team, ZANACO Football Club; and
• Zambia Sugar (PLC) sponsors a football team, the Nakambala Leopards Football Club.
Your Committee was informed that there were other corporate entities that sponsored various items such as food for the National Teams and other specific programmes.
Major Constraints to the Development of Football in Zambia
12. In their submissions to your Committee, witnesses identified the major constraints to the development of football in the country as set out below.
9 Poor sports infrastructure in the country
The Government schools, local authorities and privately owned sports infrastructure have been neglected. There has been very few additional facilities built from the time of independence. This was despite the increase in population. The witnesses noted that modern and well maintained sports facilities are important in that they allow for adequate implementation of sports programmes. These in turn allow for full player development. The provision of sporting facilities has the potential to service, cater for and benefit all levels of participation and competition. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development noted that Zambia had missed a golden opportunity to host the 2011 All Africa Games. This could have acted as a stimulus to improve, not only the sporting facilities, but regenerate the city of Lusaka and improve employability of thousands of volunteers through acquisitions of new skills.
High cost of sports equipment in the country
Your Committee was informed that the high cost of sports equipment has further reduced the level of participation in sport. This has contributed to the high level of poor health due to physical inactivity. There could be a change for the better if customs duty was waived on sportswear and equipment for a specific period as the case was with passenger buses.
Lack of Government incentives
Your Committee was informed that a lack of incentives such as tax rebates for companies that sponsor sport has made it difficult to market sport in Zambia.
Demise of parastatal companies
The demise of parastatals such as Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) has robbed sport in general and football in particular of major sponsors.
Inadequate number of qualified sports administrators, coaches and other officials
The lack of qualified sports administrators, coaches and officials has had a negative impact on the standard and performance of football in the country.
Poor attendance at football matches
Poor sports facilities, lacking, in some cases, basic ablution services, leads to low morale amongst the football fans. This results in poor attendance at football matches and deprives the clubs and FAZ in general of the much needed income from matches.
The lean structure of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development
The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development informed your Committee that it has a lean structure which only end at provincial level. This leaves the
10 districts and points of delivery in constituencies with no officers employed by the Ministry and responsible for the implementation of sports programmes. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development explained that it was the least funded Ministry. Therefore, it was facing a great challenge to adequately support community grassroots football. The Ministry noted that adequate funding would enable the whole sports delivery system to thrive. With limited funding, the sports delivery system was difficult to design and implement.
Lack of coordination mechanisms between the Football Association of Zambia and the Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education identified the lack of coordination mechanisms between the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), on one hand, and the schools and institutions of higher learning, on the other. This was a major constraint in the development of football.
Inadequate media coverage
Witnesses identified the inadequate media coverage of football events, particularly by electronic media organisations, as a limiting factor to the exposure of players. This provides a very limited chance of attracting international soccer scouts.
Witnesses noted that there has been a poor relationship between FAZ and some media houses. This has resulted in poor communication between FAZ and the football fans. It has also led to the development of a negative image of FAZ amongst the fans who depend on the media for their information. The public’s poor image of FAZ was a major constraint to the development of football.
The current weak status of the National Sports Council of Zambia
The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) noted and informed your Committee that, in most cases, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development dealt directly with FAZ overlooking the NSCZ which was the mother body of all sports associations. This has resulted in the latter lacking valid information to respond to queries pertaining to the poor performance of the national football teams. This was further compounded by the lack of representation from NSCZ during the national football team’s international matches.
Inadequate funding and lack of adequately qualified staff has made it very difficult for NSCZ to carry out its co-ordination and oversight role.
The poor relationship between FAZ and its affiliates
Witnesses noted and informed your Committee that the relationship between FAZ and its affiliates has been unhealthy and clouded with uncertainty. The Referees Association of Zambia (RAZ) and the Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZaFCA) highlighted their poor relationship with FAZ as a major hindrance to their activities in the development of football. According to RAZ, FIFA has directed FAZ to house the RAZ. Unfortunately, FAZ has decided to evict RAZ from
11 Football House and currently RAZ has no station to operate from. ZaFCA informed your Committee that it has also been evicted from Football House and its place has been taken over by the FAZ coaching staff. The two evictions have greatly disturbed the operations of the two associations.
It was learnt that ZaFCA was in the process of developing football instructors through the CAF, the Union of European Football Association (UEFA), and FIFA programmes. The current FAZ Executive abandoned this programme in preference for a new in - house programme. The current FAZ Executive has also abandoned the ZaFCA developed accreditation scheme and was currently developing a new one without ZaFCA’s input. All this has been very demoralizing for ZaFCA.
ZaFCA observed that the National Sports Council Act was retrogressive in that it does not allow for FAZ affiliates such as ZaCAF to register as independent legal entities. Associations are simply affiliates of the Football Association of Zambia. This limits their ability to borrow from the banks for investments.
Out dated FAZ/League Structure
Witnesses identified the current league structure, which include far flung clubs, as very expensive and demoralizing for most clubs which were struggling, financially.
The current FAZ organizational structure has neglected the needs of the community football affiliates. Talent was no longer being tapped from community level and this was very demoralizing.
The witnesses noted that FAZ was being run by a secretariat with a General Secretary responsible for the day-to-day administration of the institution. Most of the football associations in the world have moved away from this structure and modernised their management by adopting a corporate structure. The General Secretary has been replaced by the Chief Executive Officer and other directors, including Director of Finance, Director of Football and Director of Marketing. By evolving from the old structure to a new modern management format, the levels of accountability and service delivery become clearer and the organisations have become more result orientated.
Amakumbi Stars Football Club (ASFC), an affiliate of FAZ, observed and informed your Committee that the current league structure has been an expensive constraint to its efforts in developing football. The Club further noted that the current FAZ Executive has exhibited some undemocratic tendencies which are a major set back to football development. Despite the club providing FAZ with a well thought out and planned structure for the reorganization of the league, FAZ has ignored it and the club has received no feed back.
12 Recommendations from witnesses on the development and management of football in Zambia
Proposed new league structure
13. ASFC recognizes the following four–fold objectives of the proposed restructuring of the league:
(i) to increase the number of clubs in each league without increasing costs; (ii) to reduce the cost of traveling and camping; (iii) to reduce the costs associated with playing a thirty games league; and (iv) to introduce reserve leagues.
Super Division
ASFC recommended that the existing Super Division should be split into two zones of North and South. Each zone should be decided upon through play offs between the top four in the respective zone. (Number one North versus number four South and vice-versa at semi-final level). The final, third, and fourth places could be played later. Preferably, the games should be played on a home and away basis. The bottom two in each zone should be relegated to the lower division.
Division One
ASFC recommended that the current Division One South and North leagues should be split into zones. Only the league leaders should be promoted. At the end of the season, the league leader should go for the National Championships. The bottom two in each zone should be relegated to the lower division.
Division Two
ASFC recommended that division two should remain the same. It should however make of by amateur teams. At the end of each season, the league leaders should play off for the National Championship.
ASFC noted that the above changes would result in a reduction of league games from thirty to twenty-two. This would result in the following:
(i) traveling and camping costs, especially between provinces, would be reduced; (ii) clubs would be playing in zones and a reserve (B-side) league would be introduced; and (iii) play offs would accrue a lot of money for participating teams.
ASFC recommended that the current Super Division should maintain the sixteen teams. It should be renamed the Z-League with the hope that it would develop into a Nation-wide league with teams coming from all Provinces.
13 The current Division One Leagues of North and South should be disbanded and replaced with nine Provincial division one leagues. This could be called the P- League.
At the end of every season, the top eight teams in the Provincial Championship should play-off for promotion to the Z-league, as well as to establish the National Division One Champions. This play-off should be on knock-out basis starting with the round of eight. The eight playing champions should be fully sponsored.
The bottom two in the National League (Z-league) should be relegated. The third bottom placed team in the Super Division should then play off with the third placed in division one championship.
ASFC recommended that the current Division Two – North, South and Midlands should be disbanded and replaced with district based teams to be known as the D-League. The District league should marshal more clubs and form up Division three and Division four.
At the end of every season, the top teams in the entire district league championship should play-off for promotion to the provincial division One. The winner of this intra-provincial district championship should then play off against other provincial district champions to establish the National Champions. This play off should be fully sponsored.
The bottom two in the provincial league (P-League) should be relegated and play off against the losing finalist of the intra provincial district championship.
ASFC noted that the above restructuring would require setting up of leagues in nine provinces. In each province, there should be a registrar, referee commissioner and coaching instructors. These should be positioned for various sections, resulting into the establishment at provincial level of a select side for under twenty-three years old, under twenty years old, under seventeen years old, under fifteen years old and under thirteen years old.
ASFC noted that the setting up of leagues in seventy-two districts would require district registrars, referee commissioners, and coaching instructors for various sections. Parallel to this structure would be the establishment of the under twenty-three years old, under seventeen years old, under fifteen years old, and under thirteen years old leagues and select sides.
Commenting on the advantage of restructuring the league, ASFC pointed out that countries like Congo DR and South Africa had all restructured their Leagues. The result of the restructuring would be a reduction in costs and an improvement in the management of football.
National Team Breaks: The ASFC recommended for a break after every four league games to allow for National Team selected sides to play training games. This could be called FAZ Day.
14 Establishment of twenty-six National Teams: The ASFC recommended that each league should have a National Team select side for each age group. This would result in the establishment of twenty-six National Teams. (Refer to table below):
League Senior U23 U20 U17 Care-taker Coaches (3 per Team)
Super- 1 1 1 9 North Super- 1 1 1 9 South Div 1 1 1 1 1 12 North Div 1 1 1 1 1 12 South
Div 2 1 1 1 1 12 South Div 2 1 1 1 1 12 North Div 2 1 1 1 1 12 Midlands 78 coaches Teams 7 7 7 5 26 teams
The above changes would lead to the following advantages:
• National Team selectors would be given an opportunity for continuous selection from seven select sides for the senior team, seven under twenty-three years old sides, seven under twenty years old sides and five under seventeen years old sides;
• seventy-eight local coaches would be developing talents to take on future National Team assignments at any given time; and
• players in the League would be given a chance to expose themselves further; a total of twenty-six teams would be created.
Separation of premier league from FAZ and creation of a separate professional management structure to manage league football
Witnesses noted that, currently, the FAZ was responsible for running the affairs of both the National Football Teams and the League. Given the growth and development of football and the changing needs of the game, it had become necessary to separate the running of the League from the Football Association of Zambia. These bodies faced different challenges and required two separate management structures. This was the trend worldwide and the most successful
15 footballing countries in the world and on the African Continent were following this structure. Witnesses stated the FAZ league should be restructured, with emphasis on investment in the youth football development programmes.
Increased television coverage of Zambian football
An increase in the television coverage of Zambian football on the national broadcaster should be seriously considered. This would lead to the popularity of the game and the generation of more interest. Ultimately, this could help raise Zambian football to commercial levels and guarantee viability and sustainability. This option should be seriously considered as it has worked in countries such as South Africa where the local league was more popular than foreign leagues. The magnitude of live broadcasting of the local league on the national broadcaster has helped to generate local support.
One-off duty free arrangement for importation of football kit and equipment
In order to make football kit and equipment readily available and more affordable, especially in rural areas, the Government should consider a one-off duty free arrangement for importation of football-related ware and equipment.
Commercialisation of the league
The Football Association of Zambia should start considering commercialisation of the league to make football a viable and self-sustaining venture. However, this could only happen if the standards of Zambian football were raised to levels at which the interest of football fans would be as high as that in European leagues.
The mandate of the National Sports Council of Zambia should be recognised and strengthened by adequate financial support
The National Sports Council of Zambia, mandated to promote and regulate sports in the country, should have this mandate recognised and strengthened. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development should ensure that the Council is adequately funded and allowed to work closely with the Football Association of Zambia in developing football at community level. The introduction of soccer academies to source talent should be seriously implemented. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development should remain at the level of policy making, monitoring and evaluation. The National Sports Council of Zambia should be further supported to employ qualified permanent staff.
Football development in schools Mini leagues and soccer academies should be established in all the schools. Currently, there was only the Coca-cola sponsored league in the schools. This sponsorship only went as far as nine regions. All the schools in the country should be involved and not just those in some parts of the country.
The Ministry of Education should re-establish specific funding of sports in schools. Zambian football thrived in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of the school football programmes that were adequately funded and supported. Since
16 the demise of direct funding from the Ministry of Education for school sport, the number of quality football players emerging has noticeably declined. As a result of this decline, the game has sunk to its lowest level ever.
There was need for FAZ to create a link with the Ministry of Education in establishing football academies.
Women’s Football Witnesses recommended that more should be done by all the stake holders in football development to promote women’s participation in the game.
Corporate social responsibility Witnesses recommended that the Government should develop a policy to compel the corporate sector to invest in sports infrastructure and to adopt football teams for sponsorship.
National football indaba The Government, FAZ and other football stakeholders should hold a national indaba to review and audit the state of Zambian football. The Indaba should allow for the development of a comprehensive strategy for tackling key challenges facing local football. This strategy should, to a considerable extent, focus on capacity building for the youth.
FAZ administration Witnesses noted that there was need to instill a professional system of administering soccer in the country. This was in view of the fact that most of the administrators under FAZ were part-time and inadequately qualified. An example of the English League was given where administrators were full-time and adequately qualified to manage the game. The game was managed as a big income generating business with the capacity to create employment for many youths, including those without academic qualifications.
Stability and continuity at all levels of football management in Zambia was recommended. This would allow for a smooth flow of programmes and proper coordination between soccer administrators and other stakeholders. FAZ should ensure that the coach and his technical bench, together with the crop of players available in one particular team, at a particular time are maintained on long term basis. This would enable cohesion not only amongst players on the pitch, but also between players and the technical bench. Every newly engaged coach should present an action plan, to be agreed upon and supported by the FAZ Executive.
Witnesses recommended that FAZ should engage a contracts manager, who should be responsible for overseeing and ensuring that contracts were legally binding and beneficial to the young players. In some cases, the players were not sure of the contract’s terms of reference, they therefore required professional help.
17 FAZ should develop a package of various products. This would give it a leverage on the various preferences of sponsors. Some sponsors would only be interested in putting up billboards at stadium, others would dress the teams while others would like to facilitate the live coverage of matches.
FAZ should produce audited annual accounts to be submitted to all stakeholders. This would create confidence among various sponsors in the quality of financial management. FAZ should invite sponsors as observers to their Annual General Meetings. This would encourage transparency and instill a sense of value in the partnership.
Fans across the country need to be mobilized so that they could play a constructive role in supporting Zambian football teams.
An Act of Parliament should be introduced to recognise coaching and referring of sport as a profession, on similar lines as other professions like accountancy.
Discipline amongst football players The witnesses recommended that efforts should be targeted towards ensuring that the young footballers remained disciplined, hard working and focused on improving their game. Football clubs and the national football teams should employ trained psycho-social counselors, to help in guiding the young footballers through the challenges of fame and fortune.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
In noting the submissions, your Committee makes the observations and recommendation set out hereunder.
Football management and development
14. Your Committee observes that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development is facing major challenges in the management and development of football. These include poor sports infrastructure in the country, the absence of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development at district level and limited funding.
Your Committee recommends that the Government should provide more resources to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. The Ministry should be further encouraged to continue lobbying for partnerships with other ministries and the private sector for enhanced support to football development. Efforts to establish a sports lottery and several sports shops through-out the country should be seriously examined and implemented.
Your Committee further recommends that the Government through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, the National Sports Council of Zambia and FAZ, should seriously consider the restructuring of football management in Zambia.
18 The idea of separating the management of the League from FAZ, leaving FAZ to only manage the national teams, should be analysed and openly discussed.
Your Committee recommends that tax rebates for companies that support sport are closely scrutinised so that they are only applied on monies spent on the sport.
Your Committee further recommends that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, in cooperation with FAZ, should ensure that a national football indaba is held. This would allow stake holders to participate in charting a way forward in football development in Zambia.
Enhancing the role of the National Sports Council of Zambia
Your Committee observes that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development has weakened the oversight role of the NSCZ by dealing directly with FAZ.
Your Committee recommends that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development should empower the NSCZ by fully recognising its role. The NSCZ should be adequately funded and supported to review its legal framework and to enable it employ full time qualified staff. The NSCZ should sensitize all football clubs on the availability of services to purchase football kits duty free. Most football clubs were not aware of this.
Support to football clubs
Your Committee recommends that the Government should support football clubs that qualify for international competitions. The success of these clubs contributes to the success of the national teams.
Your Committee observes that the proposal for registration of football clubs as individual legal entities and not only as affiliates of FAZ is vital. Your Committee recommends that the Government, through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development and the National Sports Council of Zambia, should seriously examine this proposal.
Hosting of International Football Competitions
Your Committee recommends that the Government should seriously take up the challenge of hosting international football competitions. These would boost not only the development of the game by way of infrastructure development, but also the host country’s economy.
Football development in schools and institutions of higher learning
Your Committee observes that the Ministry of Education is facing challenges in promoting sport in schools and in institutions of higher learning. Your Committee recommends that the Ministry of Education should provide guidance to school boards in fundraising, specifically for football. The Ministry has to further re-
19 examine its perception of sport and to prioritize it as a major subject. Both boys and girls football should be formally introduced in all schools at an early age. The Ministry of Education should form strong alliances with FAZ, in order to build and support football academies. This will ensure that both teachers and pupils gain from coaching and refereeing activities.
The Ministry of Education should ensure that privately established sports academies are registered with the Ministry. These should be monitored frequently by both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Affairs to ensure the welfare of the children.
Your Committee observes that the current zoning of schools has killed the enthusiasm generated by frequent interaction through several school football championships. Your Committee recommends that schools should have a football league and they should be allowed to play more inter-schools football games. Your Committee also recommends that the Ministry of Education should seriously investigate and discourage cases of age cheating and doping in school sports activities.
Your Committee observes that Multi-Choice Zambia is doing a lot in the development of football. Your Committee recommends that Multi-Choice Zambia should partner with the Ministry of Education and Zambian Breweries for the live beaming of the football games leading up to the final of the Coca-cola Schools Football Championships. This would be a great opportunity for talent exposure and rejuvenation of support for school football.
The development of women’s football
Your Committee observes that women’s football has not been taken seriously by FAZ and several of its cooperating partners. Your Committee recommends that women’s football should be given the attention it deserves. Your Committee further observes that women are not adequately represented in football coaching and refereeing. Your Committee recommends that deliberate efforts should be expended to allow more women to join the coaching and refereeing of football.
Community based football development
Your Committee observes that the Mongu Youth Sports Academy (MYSA), a community based sports initiative, is facing financial challenges. MYSA approached the Government for support through the Department of Sport. However, no financial support has been forthcoming. The same applies to other community sports initiatives. Your Committee further observes that, under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), the issue of collateral has proved to be a great hindrance to initiatives such as the MYSA. Sports academies like the MYSA had failed to provide the required collateral and were, therefore, unable to access any funds.
20 Your Committee recommends that the CEEC should have a provision for the waving of the requirement for collateral for community initiatives such as MYSA. These organisations are vital to the development of the country. They are working with the youths to change some of their negative beliefs and attitudes, and to direct their youthful energy to sport.
Your Committee observes that the procedure for transfer of players from a community based academy to a mature football club is not clear. In most cases, the contributions of the community based academy are not recognised. Your Committee recommends that FAZ should ensure that transfers are formalized with recognition and benefit for the community based soccer academy. Your Committee further recommends that FAZ should prioritise the need for social counselling and educational support for youths under community based football academies.
The media and football development
Your Committee observes that the media plays an important role in the development of sport in the country. Your Committee recommends that the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) should work closely with FAZ to ensure transparent and positive communication aimed at team building. Your Committee further observes that journalists no longer accompany teams on international assignments. Your Committee recommends, that PAZA should work with FAZ to ensure that a journalist accompany the National Teams during their assignments. Your Committee further recommend for enhanced training of sport journalists.
Your Committee recommends that media houses should do more in the beaming of Zambian football matches and in carrying out interviews and profile updating of Zambian footballers.
Recognition and support of the football fans
Your Committee recommends that FAZ should formally recognise the importance and contribution of the football fans. The fans should be provided with a forum to state their views on the improvement of football in Zambia.
PART II
Local Tour Report
15. Your Committee undertook a tour of Football House and the Olympic Youth Development Centre and met representatives of the local football clubs in Kabwe, Mkushi, Kasama and Mpulungu. Your Committee also toured football stadiums in the above districts. The objectives of the tour were:
(i) to carry out an on the spot-check of the local football facilities;
21 (ii) to meet with representatives of local football clubs and to discuss the local successes and challenges faced in the development and management of football; and
(iii) to make recommendations on the way forward in the management and development of football in Zambia.
Findings of the Tour
Football House
A tour of Football House revealed that FAZ only occupies the ground floor of the building, while the first floor was rented out to SHARE International at a cost of US$2,200 per month. The ground floor houses the following offices:
General Secretary’s office; Executive Committee offices; President’s and Vice- President’s offices; Office of the Head of Administration; Directorate of Technical Development office; Communicators office; Registrar’s office; Referees Manager’s office; Registry; Cup Competitions office; and Finance Manager’s office.
Your Committee learnt that due to the anticipated increase in its work force, FAZ has made a request for more land. The Technical Department has been established to handle coaches, while the Referees Manager would handle referees. The Registry was manually operated, but FAZ hopes to computerise it in the near future.
The tour of your Committee revealed that the plot next to Football House, which belonged to FAZ, has been allocated to someone else and there were developments under way. The plot has changed hands four times.
In terms of funding, your Committee learnt that FAZ got funding from the Government, Super Sport, Zambian Breweries, registration fees, fines, cup competitions and rentals. FAZ got US$750 million per year from Government, US$600 million from Super Sport and US$2,200 per month from rentals. Your Committee also learnt that FAZ was making replica jerseys and “Chipolopolo” branded products such as T-shirts and caps. These would soon be on sale at Shoprite Checkers. A South African company was producing these products on behalf of FAZ.
Your Committee also viewed the kits and track suits which FAZ has designed for the National Football Team home and away matches.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee observe that administrative and management positions in FAZ have all been filled, except for the Referees Manager. They express displeasure at the allocation of the plot next to Football House, which belonged to FAZ, to another developer. Further, it observes that Football House has not been painted since the first painting. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the
22 allocation of the land belonging to FAZ be investigated and resolved. Your Committee also urges FAZ to paint Football House. Your Committee recommends that if office space proves to be a problem in the near future, the part of the building which is being rented to SHARE International should be taken up by FAZ. Your Committee also urges FAZ to quickly computerise their record keeping.
Tour of Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC)
Your Committee learnt that the OYDC was a multi-purpose sports facility, which was established as a result of the partnership between the Government of Zambia and the National Olympic Committee. The complex would provide ultra-modern community sport development facilities and services.
The objectives of the centre were:
(i) to develop a multi-purpose facility accessible to children, youth, sports administrators, match officials, coaches and high performance athletes; (ii) to ensure the facility and Olympic solidarity programmes enhance sport development in Zambia by providing organised sports competitions, camps, clinics, coaches and sport administrators seminars; and (iii) to provide community development services and Olympic education including girls empowerment, civic education and health issues to athletes, surrounding communities and the general public.
The facility would cater for the fourteen sports disciplines listed below:
• badminton, basketball, boxing, football, handball, hockey, judo, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, rugby, netball and track and field. The tour of the complex revealed that one football pitch with artificial turf was ready, but had no terraces for spectators.
23
Members of the Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs inspecting the football pitch at the OYDC
OYDC informed your Committee that the original design had terraces, but these were not completed because of the lack of resources following the cancellation of the All-Africa Games. The Centre was requesting sponsorship from the corporate world to put up the terraces for spectators. In the interim, plastic chairs were being used during matches.
Your Committee also learnt that the official launch of the OYDC by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia was scheduled to take place on 11 th May, 2010.
The stakeholders in the OYDC were the National Olympics Committee of Zambia (NOCZ), Government ministries and agencies, development aid institutions, the private sector, the local community and the media.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee observes that a commendable job is being carried out at the Olympic Centre. Your Committee notes the good works at the football ground. Unfortunately, there are no terraces and instead plastic chairs are being used.
Your Committee also observes that the Centre would be very difficult to sustain without a long term financial plan. Your Committee, therefore, recommends the following:
(i) the Government should assist the Centre in putting up the terraces; (ii) the Government should fund the Centre on a monthly basis for maintenance;
24 (iii) accommodation for the sports men and women who will be using the Center is vital; the Government should assist with the building of accommodation facilities; and (iv) the Centre should develop a long term financial sustainability plan.
Tour of Nkoloma Stadium
Members of the Committee listening to a briefing by ZAF Management at Nkoloma Stadium
Nkoloma stadium was the home ground of the Red Arrows Football Club. Your Committee learnt that in 2001, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) acquired a fifteen year lease of the stadium from the Lusaka City Council. When ZAF took over the stadium, only the grand stand had concrete terraces and there was minimal turf on the football pitch. ZAF has since improved the infrastructure.
25
Chairs at the Grand Stand, Nkoloma Stadium
Chairs for the grand stand were bought in 2009, while a borehole was sunk at the stadium and VIP and public toilets had also been constructed. Multichoice- Zambia partnered with ZAF and erected camera stands and a room for storing equipment used in the beaming of games. The turf had improved tremendously due to regular watering and fertilizer application. ZAF has plans to place artificial turf on the pitch and to place seats around the stadium in phases. Your Committee learnt that an amount of K467 million had been spent on the renovations.
Newly built toilet at Nkoloma Stadium
26
Camera Stand for television broadcasting at Nkoloma Stadium
Your Committee was informed that ZAF did not run any football academy, but supported a ZAF under sixteen team and a women’s football club. The community surrounding Nkoloma Stadium was also allowed to use the stadium. FAZ paid K5 million for games held at the stadium. Further, the Red Arrows Football Club has supporters’ clubs that were provided with drums and T-shirts. Multichoice has planned to assist the supporters’ clubs in 2010. This activity has been budgeted for and was awaiting approval.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee express happiness at the renovations made on Nkoloma stadium and the sponsorship by Multi-Choice Zambia and encourage ZAF to continue putting up the seats and to continue maintaining the stadium. Your Committee also recommends that ZAF should renew the lease with the Council when it expires in 2016.
Meeting with representatives of the focal football clubs in Kabwe
Your Committee learnt of the 170 football teams in Central Province as set out below.
27
Meeting with representatives of the Local Football Clubs in Kabwe
Kabwe District a) Clubs in the Football Association of Zambia League Super Division - one team Division one - three teams Division two - seven teams Division three - three teams b) Central Province Amateur Football Association (CEPAFA) eleven teams c) Kabwe District Amateur Football Association (KADAFA) (i) District League teams - twenty (ii) Youth Football teams - twenty-six (iii) Women Football teams - twelve
Kapiri Mposhi District a) Clubs in the Football Association of Zambia League Division two - one team Division three - one team b) Central Province Amateur Football Association (CEPAFA) one team c) Kapiri Mposhi District Amateur Football Association (KADAFA) Twelve teams
28 Mkushi District a) Clubs in the Football Association of Zambia League Division two - one team Division three - two teams c) Mkushi District Amateur Football Association (MDAFA) Thirty-eight teams (Divided in two Zones)
Serenje District
Serenje District Amateur Football Association Eleven teams
Your Committee was informed that during the period 2005 to 2010, the province has made strides as itemised below. a) Mr Honour Janza (Kabwe Warriors Football Club immediate past club Technical Advisor) was appointed Technical Director of Football Association of Zambia effective 2010. b) The Kabwe Warriors Coach, Mr George Lwandamina, had been appointed Zambia National Soccer Team Head Coach. c) CEPAFA, in collaboration with FAZ, successfully managed to establish provincial division two and three leagues. d) In the year 2008, Kalonga High School were crowned Coca-cola Schools champions and consequently became Zambia’s representatives in South Africa for the Africa (Coca-cola) Schools championships; e) The under 16 years old boy and girls’ teams participated in the 2007 Youth Championships held in Lusaka and reached the quarter finals. f) The Kasanda Police football team (a CEPAFA affiliate) reached the Mosi Cup quarters finals. g) CEPAFA secured an office to serve as a secretariat. This was done with the help of the Department of Sport at the Permanent Secretary’s Office.
(h) A total of eleven players were selected to the National Teams in the past five years.
Your Committee was informed that the development and administration of football in the Province had been faced with several challenges. Poor infrastructure and lack of modern sports facilities has forced football teams to use dilapidated stadiums and poor school grounds for their games. Most administrators, coaches and referees lacked training. Workshops, seminars and courses aimed at building their capacity were concentrated either in Lusaka or Copperbelt Provinces. There was very little Government and corporate
29 sponsorship for individually run and community based teams. There has further been a scourge of illegal allocation of residential and commercial plots in areas reserved for sport and recreation activities.
The representatives of the football clubs in Central Province requested Government to give tax rebates to companies sponsoring football teams, to provide sports grants to football teams, and to employ full time district Sports officers. They also requested that the Government should source and quickly start the disbursement of funds for the construction of modern stadiums. Land had already been allocated by Kabwe Municipal Council for this purpose. However, the lack of funds was a hindrance.
The representatives of football clubs further requested that a portion of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) should be channelled to football development programmes. They further requested the introduction of short and long term football education programmes. These could be done in conjunction with already existing higher learning institutions. The club representatives also requested the introduction of a national sports day.
Your Committee also learnt that there was lack of coordination between FAZ and the lower ranks of the football organs. This has led to the absence of competitive football administration which could expose talent. Due to lack of resources, Kabwe Warriors did not go out into the neighbouring communities to tap talent. Further, the clubs were failing to meet the minimum standard provisions for the players. The players therefore felt insecure and were usually discouraged. The administration of football was very expensive and the corporate world was not giving much attention to the amateur clubs. The clubs noted and informed your Committee that the word “amateur” discouraged people from supporting the clubs. They recommended that the word be removed and replaced with another more positive one.
Your Committee was informed that Kabwe Warriors received sponsorship of K250 million from Zambia Railways and Railway Systems of Zambia, respectively. They received US$ 32, 000 from Super Sport annually. The budget for Kabwe Warriors was K1.2 billion per year. Your Committee further learnt that CEPAFA had lined up fundraising ventures, for maintenance of the Stadium. In 2009, K200 million was allocated for maintenance of the Stadium.
Regarding the gate takings, your Committee was informed that the grand stand fee was K10, 000 while that of the open wing was K5, 000. A total ranging between K3.5 million to K4 million was collected during a game. The average monthly expenditure was K80 million, inclusive of salaries. Automotive Equipment has sponsored the Kabwe Warriors kit for 2010.
Your Committee was informed that the clearing and maintenance of the Kabwe Warriors stadium was done by two workers.
30 Tour of Winter Muleya Stadium - Kabwe
Your Committee was informed that the Winter Muleya Stadium was owned by the Kabwe Municipal Council. It has a wall fence which was highly neglected and the dressing room was vandalised. The roofing sheets and the water tank has been removed from the stadium by the Council. Your Committee was also informed that K100 million has been given to the Council by the Government to rehabilitate the stadium. Unfortunately, the money was diverted to other needs. The stadium lacked security.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee observes that the football clubs in Kabwe have financial constraints and, therefore, lack equipment and kits. Your Committee also observes that the infrastructure at Winter Muleya Stadium is extremely poor. The Stadium has a wall fence but does not have terraces. Your Committee also observes, with concern, the irregular removal of iron sheets and the water tank from the Stadium by the Council. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Kabwe Municipal Council to put the iron sheets back on the dressing rooms and for the water tank to be erected with immediate effect. Further, security should be stepped up at the stadium. The Government should urgently release funds for construction of terraces. This could be done in phases.
Your Committee also observe that there is encroachment on Winter Muleya Stadium which should be stopped.
Tour of Zambia Railways Stadium - Kabwe
Railways stadium was the home of the Kabwe Warriors Football Club. Apart from the VIP grandstand and the football pitch, the rest of the stadium was in a deplorable state.
31
Members of Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs inspecting the building with broken window panes at Zambia Railways Stadium
Leaking roof of the commentary box, Zambia Railways Stadium
There has been no electricity at the stadium for three months. No efforts have been made to fit chairs on the concrete terraces.
32
Concrete terraces at the Grand Stand, Zambia Railways Stadium
A worn-out Sofa in the Match Officials Office, Zambia Railways Stadium
The dressing rooms for the players were in a terrible condition and not fit for use.
33
Showers in the changing rooms, Zambia Railways Stadium
The storeroom was leaking and equipment kept there has been soaked and destroyed.
Storeroom, Zambia Railways Stadium
The stadium which has the capacity of 10,000 spectators only had two toilets, one for the gents and one for the ladies and both are in a deplorable state.
34
One of the two public toilets, Zambia Railways Stadium
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee observes, with disbelief, the dilapidated state of Zambia Railways Stadium. It is difficult to comprehend how the stadium was left to deteriorate to such a low level. Sanitation was inadequate for a stadium with a sitting capacity of 10, 000 people. Your Committee strongly recommends that Government should ensure that the stadium is rehabilitated and that more staff, including security personnel, are deployed at the stadium.
Members of the Committee and representatives of football clubs inspecting the Zambia Railways Football Pitch
35 Interaction with representatives of local football teams in Mkushi
Your Committee learnt that there were thirty-four amateur teams in Mkushi and no women’s football team. The Football Association in Mkushi faces a lot of challenges. Most of the teams are sponsored by individuals and, therefore, financial capacity was limited. Most amateur clubs have failed to formally register themselves because of lack of funds. There was no football stadium but only one welfare ground which was in very poor condition. The clubs requested the apportioning of CDF to the districts for sporting activities. They also called upon the Government to intervene in the provision of sports facilities.
Your Committee also learnt that the football coaches and administrators were not trained. There have been no tournaments to expose the players for selection to the National Teams. The farming community was doing its best to support football as six teams in the district were sponsored by farmers. Further, there was a poor link with the provincial football body. Players were not motivated because of poor funding and would rather work on farms and raise money than play football.
Your Committee also learnt that there was a private football academy in Mkushi, which was training players from the age of five to twenty years. This academy was run by an individual.
Tour Mkushi Welfare Football Ground
The Welfare Football ground was the home ground of Mkushi United Football Club. However, the pitch was also used by all the clubs in the district. It was an open pitch and foot paths have been developed across the ground. There were no changing rooms and the players changed under a big tree near the football pitch. There was, however, a building at the pitch which the Council was renting out to other people. The Mkushi District Football Association had recommended that the Council should allocate the building to them to use as changing rooms.
The Association passionately stated that they were ready to make concrete blocks and to erect a fence around the pitch as long they were assured of further support in football development. The money realised from the gate takings would assist in funding further renovations to the football pitch.
36
The teams playing at the Welfare ground in Mkushi
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
In noting the submissions, your Committee observes with concern the lack of training of coaches and referees and the lack of kits for football clubs. Your Committee also notes, with sadness, the state of Mkushi Welfare Football Ground which was not secured and had no infrastructure. Your Committee further observes that the building at the football grounds was being rented out instead of it being used by the players. It, therefore, recommends that the Government should ensure that money is released towards the training of coaches and referees and for the construction of a wall fence to secure the football ground. Your Committee further recommends that the building at the ground be availed to the Football Association clubs to use as a changing room.
Interaction with the Northern Province Amateur Football Association (NOPAFA)
The Northern Province Amateur Football Association (NOPAFA) is an affiliate of the Football Association of Zambia. It, therefore, attends all Football Association of Zambia meetings on football development and management.
Northern Province has 135 football clubs for men and women and forty for youths.
37
The Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs meeting with the NOPAFA representatives in Kasama
In the last five years, forty seven players from the Province have played in the premier league teams, while four have played in the National Teams.
Your Committee learnt that Northern Province teams have produced a total of 112 players for the Football Association of Zambia super league teams and the Zambia National Football Teams. In 2005, Aero Strikers Football Club of Mbala was the only team from the rural provinces to reach round six of the Mosi Cup Competition. The team received an award for this achievement. In 2006, Kasama United and Tazara Blue Stars reached round five of the Mosi Cup competition, only to be eliminated by Chambishi and Mufulira Blackpool Football Clubs, respectively. For the last three years, the Northern Province Amateur Football Association (NOPAFA) have tried to persuade the Football Association of Zambia to introduce its (FAZ) leagues in Northern Province. In 2009, the Football Association of Zambia accepted the suggestion and, currently, there were teams in the Northern Province that participate in the FAZ leagues. Teams in Mbala, Nakonde, Chinsali, Mpika, Kasama and Mungwi are currently able to play in the Football Association of Zambia leagues.
In conjunction with FAZ, NOPAFA organized football coaching clinics. Twenty- five football coaches were trained. FAZ, in conjunction with NOPAFA, organizes training for referees in Mporokoso, Mbala, Kasama, Mpika and Nakonde. With the help of Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, links were established with line ministries and local authorities for the administration of football in the Province. There was further a continuous procurement and distribution of sports equipment to community-based teams.
38 Your Committee was further informed that poor participation of the private sector in the management and development of football, was a major constraint faced by NOPAFA. The lack of industries in the Province has negatively impacted upon the sponsorship of football teams. Due to this problem, very few clubs have three teams (men, women and youth). There was further a lack of well-established sports shops in the Country.
Long distances, approximately 200Km from Kasama to surrounding districts, have negatively affected NOPAFA in its operations and coordination of football activities in the Province. Lack of sports academies, which were the nurseries for future football development, was a major constraint. Playing grounds were not adequate, in some cases, two to three teams shared one football ground. Transportation of players continues to be a big challenge. There was need to provide more vehicles to the office of Provincial Sports Department. This would allow for the districts to be serviced regularly.
NOPAFA requested funding from Government in order to effectively organize the district football associations. It also recommended that the Football Association of Zambia should fund NOPAFA. A percentage of the total registration and affiliation fees from teams in the Province would go a long way in helping NOPAFA improve its operations. The Provincial Sport Department should be adequately funded for the proper organisation and management of community football. The Government should formulate a policy that would compel the private sector to seriously support football activities as a way of paying back to the community. A sports component should be included and budgeted for in the Sixth National Development Plan. NOPAFA noted that Government was the largest employer, therefore all Government heads of department should be directed to form football clubs at the work place. Members of Parliament should play a more active role in support of football in their Constituencies.
The current Chairperson of NOPAFA has been using his personal financial resources to sponsor the following activities:
(i) coaching clinics for football coaches; (ii) trainings for football referees; and (iii) the Chinchi Nest Cup for Kasama District Football Association.
Tour of Kasama Football Stadium
The tour of the stadium revealed that the VIP toilet was being used as a storeroom because the toilet pan had been vandalised. There were no changing rooms. Players changed in the toilets. What should have been the changing rooms were occupied by the caretaker and his family. However, a caretakers’ house was under construction.
A physical walk around the grounds confirmed that the stadium has been encroached by private individuals.
The private developers found within the Kasama Stadium Grounds disclosed that they had bought the plots from the former Mayor of Kasama and his councillors.
39 Others were allocated the plots by the Council. They all acquired the plots through the rightful procedure and had paid service charges of K750, 000 in 2004.
Private constructions within Kasama stadium
Yet another private structure constructed within Kasama stadium
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee’s Members observe with concern the encroachment on the stadium. They are not happy with this development, especially that the Council is aware of the situation. Your Committee recommends that the developments be stopped immediately and the developers provided with alternative plots. Your Committee further recommends that the stadium should be fitted with terraces and seats.
40 Interaction with the Mpulungu/Mbala (District) Football Association (MMDFA)
The Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs meeting with representatives of local football clubs in Mpulungu
Your Committee was informed of the following football teams in MMDFA:
• Mpulungu Harbour Football Club; • Mukosa Football Club; • Mpulungu United Football Club; • Mpulungu Stars Football Club; • Lima Dragon Football Club; • Aero Strikers Football Club; • Green Leopards Football Club; • Pencil Bullets Football Club; • Medical Starts Football Club; • Dosat Farms Football Club; • Young Stars Football Club; • Real Tanganyika Football Club; and • ZNS Munyezi Football Club.
The sports trophies in Mpulungu were as follows:
- Mpulungu Harbour Management Football Trophy = (K5, 000,000) - Great Lakes Product Football Trophy = (K5, 000,000) - Musende Junction Filling Station Football Trophy = (K3, 250,000) - Moon Rays Trust School Netball/Football Trophy = (K2, 000,000) - Mpulungu District Council’s Sports Trophy = (K1, 500,000)
41 The Referees Association of Mbala/Mpulungu has twelve members.
Your Committee learnt that Mpulungu football clubs have no football kits. The clubs called for NOPAFA, which was the provincial mother body, to ensure that all players in the clubs were insured, and the affiliation fees paid. The clubs recommended that the Government should turn Muzabwera football grounds into Mpulungu Football Stadium. This could help to raise funds through gate takings.
Your Committee further learnt that the players lacked exposure because they could only play in Mbala and Mpulungu. Their talent could therefore, not be exposed. Further, there was a lack of communication between Mpulungu District and NOPAFA. The clubs were not aware of procedures in place for promotion to divisions I, II and III.
The lack of finances was a problem. MMDFA called on the Government to assist in sports development in Mpulungu. MMDFA also lamented that they had never been visited by any FAZ representative. They further stated that they had not been able to play in premier matches because of lack of funds. They blamed FAZ for this situation, stating that FAZ operations ended at Football House. They also said that Government had left football clubs to fend for themselves. They lacked stadiums and only had one football pitch called Muzabwera Ground. All the clubs practice and play in this ground which was in a poor condition.
Players parading in readiness for a match at Muzabwera Stadium, Mpulungu
MMDFA further recommended that there was need for an officer under the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development to coordinate the sporting activities in Mpulungu District.
Your Committee watched a football match in Mpulungu between Mpulungu Habour and Mpulungu United football team. Mpulungu Habour won by two goals to nil.
42
The Winning Team – Mpulungu Harbour
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee observes the zeal of the football clubs in Mpulungu. They also note the lack of funds for the development of the game. Your Committee recommends that a stadium be put up in Mpulungu as this would generate income from gate takings.
Your Committee recommends that the Government should apportion 10% of the CDF to sports development.
Foreign tour to Accra, Ghana
Introduction
16 Your Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs undertook a foreign tour to Accra, Ghana, from Tuesday 25 th May to Tuesday 1 st June 2010. The main objective of the tour was to meet and share ideas with football development legislaters and administrators in the country. During the tour, your Committee held a total of six meetings with the following institutions:
• the Ghana Parliamentary Committee on Sport, Youth and Culture; • the Ghana Ministry of Sport, Youth and Culture; • the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA); • the Ghana Football Association; (GFA) • the Ghana National Sports Council; and • the Feyenoord Football Academy.
43 Your Committee conducted tours of the following institutions:
• the newly renovated Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra; • the Feyenoord Football training grounds; • the Ghana Football Association offices; and • the Ghana National Sports Council facilities.
The tour programme was set up by the Parliament of Ghana. The tour begun by attendance of a parliamentary session in the House, tour of the Parliament Buildings and meeting with the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, who briefed your Committee on the procedure and operations of Parliament in Ghana.
Lessons learnt
Your Committee learnt that Ghana was making big strides in sports development in general, and football in particular. The country no longer viewed sport as leisure but as a major tool for development and investment. The hosting of the 2008 Africa Football Cup of Nations contributed up to 3% of Ghana's economic growth. The hosting of the games further led to the construction of two international standard stadiums and the renovation and up-grading of two stadiums to international level.
Members of the Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs with Members of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) at the Ohene Djan Sports stadium, Accra-Ghana
A meeting with the Parliament of Ghana’s Committee on Sport, Youth and Culture revealed that the Standing Orders required the Committee to preview and critique the budget of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Culture before it was presented for debate to the main House. This exercise allowed the Committee to ensure that funds were judiciously allocated. The Committee has no mandate to increase the funding but it could recommend changes within the
44 allocations. The Ghana Parliamentary Committee was currently looking at a review of the National Sports Act. The introduction of professionalism amongst sports men and women, and the autonomy of the sports associations were major issues in the review.
A meeting with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Culture revealed that funding for football development has been a great challenge. The Government spent 2% of the national budget on sports development. Football, being a major sport, allows the Ghana Football Association to receive more of the allocated funding for the development of the national teams. The allocation was, however, not enough. Ghana has, therefore, decided to establish stronger partnerships with the corporate world. Tax rebates for companies supporting sport have been formalized and were seriously implemented. This has encouraged more support for the game both at national and club levels. Football in Ghana has been identified as a major advertising tool. This has led to more television exposure of the players and more support for infrastructure development.
Mrs J C Mumbi-Phiri, MP, a Member of the Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs watching a football match with students at the Feynoord Sports Academy in Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana
Ghana has identified youth football as the base for football development. The country has heavily invested in youth football and has a total of ten football academies. These were privately-run but linked to and supervised by the Ministry of Education. Youth competitions at club and school levels has been identified as the key to national football success. Both the boys’ Under seventeen years old team and the Under twenty years old team had qualified to the respective World Cups.
A tour of the Feyenoord Football Academy revealed well maintained and modern football playing and academic facilities. The Academy was located on 100 acres of land in the Gomoa Fetteh town. It was supported by a Belgian football non-governmental organisation. The academy was home to a total of
45 150 boys. The boys have been selected from all over the West African Region. Football gala competitions were held annually. The best performers were picked by trained football scouts and provided with scholarships to study at the Academy. The ages of the boys at the Academy ranged from twelve years to eighteen years.
Members of the Committee touring a football training pitch at the Feyenoord Sports Academy in Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana
The boys were availed academic, health, psychosocial counselling and football training. By the age of seventeen years, the boys were ready for transfer to national and international clubs. Your Committee was informed that building up a player required heavy investment and patience. To sustain the academy, part of the funds raised during the transfer of players were ploughed back into the development of the Academy.
Ghana has further invested in the development of women's football. The senior team was ranked first in Africa and it has recently qualified to the World Cup. Plans have been drawn and soon a girl’s football academy would be established.
A meeting with Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) revealed that for the efficient and effective management of club football, Ghana has decided to separate the management of the league from the Ghana Football Association (GFA). The league was managed by GHALCA whilst the national teams continued to be managed by the GFA. Initially, the move received a lot of resistance from GFA officials who felt that their powers would be reduced. The change, therefore, has to be gradual with the full participation of GFA. Eighty percent (80%) of the GHALCA membership was made up of GFA members. Therefore, lobbying for GHALCA support was made simpler.
46
Members of the Committee touring the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium Led by Mr L J Ngoma, MP (Chairperson) and Mr Agrah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Sports Council.
Your Committee was informed that the establishment of GHALCA allows for particular attention to be paid on the welfare of the clubs. GHALCA operates as a pressure group for the implementation of policies that would benefit club football development.
GHALCA draws its finances from a percentage of the gate takings and from the sell of football players. However, this was not enough to fully support the GHALCA activities. Inadequate funding has forced GHALCA to rescind an earlier decision for total independence from Government, made during its establishment in 1995. Thus, in 2010, GHALCA was lobbying for more Government support.
Your Committee toured the GHALCA secretariat offices, situated at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.
47 A meeting with the GFA revealed to your Committee that it has undergone a major revolution following newly introduced FIFA reforms in 2005. These resulted into the following changes listed hereunder:
• A new Constitution was drawn giving the GFA Executive a four year term in office.
• The term “Chairman” of GFA was replaced by that of “President” of GFA and the Government's powers of appointing a President for the GFA were withdrawn. The President was to be elected by the GFA members.
• The new Executive decided to reform the GFA and to run it like a private business. GFA set up a business development plan with three major tangible and measurable targets. These were to be achieved in three years. The plan was fully anchored on yearly review, monitoring and appraisal. The targets are:
− to ensure that the Black Stars (the senior male national team) qualify to every African and World Football Cup tournament; − to ensure that the Black Starts were best of 5 in Africa; and − to ensure that the Black Stars were best of 20 in the World.
GFA was proud to inform your Committee that by 2008, the above targets had been fully achieved.
• The GFA set the national teams activities to be taking place during the period August to May. This allowed for easy access to the players who would be on break from club activities.
• GFA has to raised revenue by inviting and opening up sponsorship of the national teams to the private corporate world.
• GFA has opened up its accounts to the private sector for scrutiny and advice. It also begun to send its annual accounts report to the Auditor General's Office and to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.
• GFA insisted on transparency, accountability and professionalism in its daily operations. It set a target of recognising and working with only those private companies who were willing to spend more than US $4 million on the sponsorship of the national teams.
The above changes allowed for the first ever sponsorship amounting to US$ 3 million by Glo, a private telecom company. Vodafone followed with a sponsorship of US$ 250 000, while Puma provided the kit for all the national teams.
The above sponsorships allowed for full payment of salaries for the coaches, and for regular up to date payment of bonuses for the players, (initially bonuses took months to pay). This has boosted the
48 morale of players who have performed to greater heights.
Furthermore, the Committee was informed that –
• GFA initiated open and free communication with the players. Bonuses were all discussed before the games begun and whilst in camp, the importance of discipline was emphasized by insisting on same dress code, and same sleeping time in the same sleeping quarters. Favouritism was highly discouraged and avoided.
• GFA has established open and regular communication with both the private and public media. This has helped to sell the GFA, allowing it to gain both national and international recognition and support.
• GFA has seriously taken on board the capacity building of the coaches, referees, medical personnel and psycho-social counsellors.
• Talent identification was a well planned and coordinated affair. The youth football academies, schools and institutions of higher learning were used for this purpose.
• GFA has to seriously taken on board the football fans ("the 12th Player"). The Government was sending 2,500 football fans to the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa. All these were to be fully sponsored by the Government. Fans were also recognised during the GFA annual awards.
A meeting with the Ghana National Sports Council revealed that it has been fully recognised by the Government as a major stake holder in sports development. The Council was run by a board appointed by the Government with representation from the armed forces, police, prisons and immigration. Gender balance and youth representation were emphasized. The secretariat of the Council was headed by the Chief Executive Officer. Currently, the Council has thirty-four sports associations registered with it. All associations have been advised to hold elections for the executive committee members. Initially, this had been by appointment.
The National Sports Council has a total of 430 full time employees. The Council operations spread to 170 out of the 230 districts in Ghana. Plans were under way to employ 650 more staff to fill up all the Districts. The Council has drawn up an annual plan of events in all sports displines. This was shared with all the major stakeholders and interested members of the public. The Council owned all the major sports facilities and benefited from a percentage of the gate takings.
The annual budgets of all the sports associations were directed to the National Sports Council. The Council scrutinised the budgets and presented a combined budget to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and
49 Culture. In the same vain, funding for the associations was through the National Sports Council. Your Committee was informed that funding was a challenge. In 2010, the National Sports Council requested from Government a total of 12 billion Ghana Cedis, only an amount of 3 billion Ghana Cedis was provided.
Your Committee was informed that transparency in the running of the National Sports Council and equality amongst all associations was highly emphasized. However, positive biasness had to be considered in times of scarce resources. More funding has to be provided to sports displines that had a better chance of winning and, therefore, boosting the people's morale. The Government of Ghana was going to spend a total of US$16 million out of the required total of US$20 million for the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa.
Your Committee toured the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra. The Stadium has been rehabilitated for the hosting of the 2008 African Football Cup of Nations. The stadium was ultra modern and it hosted several shops and offices for the National Sports Council and GHALCA. The stadium also has a modern gym filled with ultra modern equipment, a conference facility, a clinic and a restaurant facility.
Your Committee’s tour of Ghana was indeed a valuable learning experience. It contributed greatly in equipping your Committee with valuable information during the study of the management and development of football.
PART III
Action-Taken Report on the First Report for the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Assembly
Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Development
17. Your previous Committee recommended that each and every Ministry should streamline child rights activities in their operations.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government, through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, in collaboration with several stakeholders, had continued to strengthen the implementation of child development programmes and activities countrywide. Other than the Ministry itself, many stakeholders and co-operating partners such as the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organisation (ILO) and RAPIDS were strongly supporting child related issues in the country. The establishment of the Zambia Council for the Child was another initiative by the Government to ensure that more resources for child development programmes were mobilised.
50 Your previous Committee observed that issues of child welfare were not being given enough recognition and support under the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. Your Committee recommended that child issues should be fully recognized and supported.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that Government had taken note of its recommendation. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development would seek Cabinet approval for other ministries to streamline child rights activities in their operations.
Your previous Committee observed that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development was not comfortable with delegating their activities to the district councils. The Ministry would rather have their officers appointed at district level. In view of the above, your Committee recommended that employment of Child Welfare Officers, at district level should be factored into the Ministry's 2010 budget.
In the Action – Taken Report, the Government informed your Committee that the Ministry had put the employment of Child Welfare Officers at district level, in the Ministry's draft 2010-2014 Strategic Plan. However, the Ministry could not budget for these district structures in the 2010 budget as they had not yet been approved by the Management Development Division at Cabinet Office.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government. It requests for an update on the establishment of the Zambia Council for the Child and the employment of District Child Welfare Officers.
National Youth Constitutional Assembly
Your previous Committee observed that the establishment and empowerment of school parliaments by the National Youth Constitutional Assembly was a good educational tool. As such, your Committee recommended that this initiative should be strengthened and spread to other parts of the country. The National Youth Constitutional Assembly should be encouraged to work closer with Members of Parliament, chiefs, parents and local authorities.
In the Action – Taken Report, the Ministry of Education agreed with your Committee's observation and recommendation. However, additional funds were required from other line ministries to undertake this initiative.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and request a progress report on the establishment of school parliaments in other parts of the country.
51 Ministry of Home Affairs
The Zambia Police Force Victim Support Unit
Your previous Committee observed that due to the non-criminalisation of child labour, it had been under reported. Further, your Committee observed that the Zambia Police Force lacked the expertise and equipment to carry out investigations on child labour. Your Committee, therefore, recommended that child labour be criminalized.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that child labour was recently criminalized under the Anti-Trafficking Act No. 11 of 2008 . The Act provided for stiff punishment for offenders of child labour. Public sensitization was required to report any offence of child labour to the Police, as stipulated in the Act.
The Government further informed your Committee that police lacked expertise in investigating child labour. This was due to the fact that the offense was not previously criminalized and the subject was not taught in police training institutions. However, with the legislation in place, police had started teaching officers about child labour during in-service training. The subject would also be included in the curriculum for recruits.
Recognising the importance of preventing child labour, the draft Governance Chapter of the Sixth National Development Plan has included a programme on Anti-Human Trafficking. This would be undertaken by the Zambia Police Force. By integrating Anti-Human Trafficking in the Sixth National Development Plan, it was hoped that capacity would be developed in the Zambia Police Force to handle cases of child labour.
The Government further informed your Committee that the Victim Support Unit would soon establish a data bank for child labour cases. Once members of the public were sensitized, they would start to report cases of child labour.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government. It requests a progress report on the establishment of a data bank for child labour cases reported in the country.
International Labour Organisation
Your previous Committee observed that the National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Child Labour had not yet been adopted. They also noted that the process of issuing the Statutory Instrument that defined hazardous child labour had been delayed. This Statutory Instrument was the basis upon which inspection and prosecution could be carried out. Your Committee recommended for the immediate adoption of the Statutory Instrument and the National Plan of Action for the Elimination of Child Labour.
52 Gender and Women in Development
Women and Law in Southern Africa Your previous Committee observed that the dual legal system of Customary and Statutory law was a great hindrance to the process of safeguarding the rights of women and children. Your Committee recommended that the two systems be harmonised.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government and the public in general recognised that there were indeed conflicts between Customary and Statutory law. For example, in the current Constitution, Article 23 (4) (c) and (d) allowed discrimination in the area of personal law such as in marriage, inheritance and maintenance of children. The Constitution contained "claw-back clauses” or 'derogations' which negated women's rights and principles of equality.
To redress the conflicts, the Government has been reviewing legislation, including the Constitution and the Penal Code. The Constitutional review process provided a fresh opportunity for Zambia to clearly and conclusively articulate gender equality in the Constitution. This would ensure equality in all other laws, whether statutory or customary. To further ensure that negative customary practices were deterred, the Government was in the process of conducting legislative and policy mapping on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women.
The recommendations on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women would contribute to the domestication of other various human rights instruments to which Zambia was a party. The Convention was critical to the socio-economic empowerment of women.
In addition, the Zambia Law Development Commission was currently involved in drafting the Bill on Gender Based Violence. This was another opportunity to strengthen the gaps in the Penal Code. Your Committee was informed that the review of legislation was an on-going process to fill up the gaps in the application of the law.
Your previous Committee observed that the process of acquiring maintenance for children born out of wedlock was long and complicated. They recommended for the shortening of the process to allow for recognition and support of these children.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government had put in place the Affiliation and Maintenance of Children Act No.5 of 1995. This provides for the maintenance of all children, including 'non-marital' or children born out of wedlock. However, the process of obtaining maintenance claims was long, technical and expensive for most women who were already disadvantaged due to their low socio-economic status in society. This situation was compounded by the prolonged due process of the law and negative practices in the administration of justice, especially at implementation level. Children born out of wedlock were usually disadvantaged in terms of
53 benefiting fully from the Affiliation and Maintenance Act.
The current situation was costly and it deterred women from claiming maintenance for their children. The Ministries of Justice; Sport, Youth and Child Development; and Community Development and Social Services through the Department of Social Welfare, could consider the creation of a specialised Court for Women and Children This could be in the same line as the newly established Small Claims Court. Long procedural rules, such as "Application and Consideration by the Courts" contained in the Affiliation and Maintenance Act, could be avoided. The process of application and consideration by the courts demanded engaging a lawyer, who was usually expensive. In addition, the specialized court would cut on the adjournments made before the case was finally disposed of.
Your previous Committee recommended that the Government should establish a social safety net to specifically empower women, who were the children's main care-givers.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the harmonising of the dual legal systems of Customary and Statutory law.
Your Committee further requests a progress report on the establishment of a specialised court for women and children which would cut down on the long and costly procedural rules.
An Assessment of the Promotion of Sport in Schools and Institutions of Higher Learning
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development
Your previous Committee recommended that the Government should implement the Decentralisation Policy. This would reduce on costs incurred through duplication of duties by several sports organisations.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government has approved the Decentralisation Implementation Action Plan. Respective ministries would soon start the process of preparing their Devolution Plans. Some of the concerns raised by your Committee would be addressed by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development.
Your previous Committee recommended that there should be increased and consistent funding to the National Sports Council of Zambia.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development had taken note of the Committee's recommendation. Although funding to the Ministry had not improved in the recent past, the allocation (funding) to the National Sports Council of Zambia
54 has improved (increased) proportionate to the funding of the Sports Department in the 2010 National Budget. Furthermore, the Ministry has impressed upon the National Sports Council Board to engage in fundraising ventures and the process has since commenced.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government. It requests a progress report on the implementation of the Decentralisation Action Plan by respective ministries, including the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development.
Your Committee further requests a progress report on the implementation of fundraising ventures by the National Sports Council of Zambia.
Ministry of Education
Your previous Committee recommended that Government should start funding school sports activities.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Sport Fund was included in the overall budget of the province and district under the Directorate of Standards. However, this was inadequate due to other competing needs in education at various levels. Hence, the idea of partnering with the private sector to sponsor some sports activities that took place annually was encouraged. Examples were given of Coca-cola, MTN and Zain who were supporting many of the school, college and university sports competitions.
Your previous Committee recommended that there should be a review of the Position of the Senior Education Standards Officer for Expressive Arts.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Education was currently reviewing the restructuring of the Ministry. This was in order to re-align the establishment to the job descriptions of all the positions. It was, therefore, expected that once this task was completed and approved by the Government, there would be changes in the structure and job descriptions for Senior Education Standards Officers.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and request a progress report on the restructuring of the Ministry of Education. Your Committee would await a progress report especially on the review of the position of Senior Education Standards Officer for Expressive Arts.
55 Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development
National Sports Council of Zambia
Your previous Committee had recommended that the National Sports Council of Zambia Act should be reviewed and that the Government should ensure that National Sports Council of Zambia staff were competent by exposing them to vigorous competition during the employment process. Only competent staff should be employed or seconded to the National Sports Council of Zambia.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the review of the National Sports Council Act had already been taken into consideration. The review process had reached an advanced stage and the Bill would be presented to Parliament in the first quarter of 2010.
Your Committee was also informed that officers employed or seconded to National Sports Council of Zambia were indeed competent and qualified enough to administer the affairs of National Sports Council of Zambia.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that this provision already existed. Currently, all sports associations and organisations importing sports equipment were exempted from paying duty.
Your Committee recommended that the Ministry should immediately advertise the recruitment of a General Secretary, on an objective and competitive basis.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry, in conjunction with the National Sports Council of Zambia, conducted interviews for all the positions at the Council. However, the recruitment of successful officers was still pending because the National Sports Council of Zambia did not have enough financial resources to sustain the successful applicants. The Ministry had meetings with the corporate world to solicit for funding. It was hoped that the Fundraising Committee of the National Sports Council would be encouraged to start supporting other sports apart from football. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development was working on modalities to operationalise the Sport Policy.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and request a progress report on the review of the Sports Council Act . Your Committee further requests a progress report on the recruitment of a General-Secretary for the National Sports Council of Zambia.
Ministry of Local Government and Housing
Your previous Committee observed that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing was not aware of its partnership with the International Labour Organisation. The partnership was meant to assist in the rehabilitation of recreation and sports centres in some districts. This information was availed to your
56 Committee during their meeting with International Labour Organisation. Further, your Committee observed that land meant for sports activities in learning institutions was being taken over by private and commercial activities. Your Committee further noted that massive political interference had intimidated the operations of the professionals in the district councils.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, had since directed all Councils to obtain policy documents aimed at supporting Child recreation initiatives from the International Labour Organisation. These would be incorporated into the Councils' work plans as a way of enhancing recreation in the country.
Your previous Committee was informed that the Government had put in place measures to ensure that councils received various predictable grants. These would not only help the Councils retain qualified personnel, but also provide services to the communities they served.
Your previous Committee recommended that land meant for sports should be reserved and protected.
In the Action–Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government was putting up measures to protect land reserved for sports. The Government was in the process of presenting to Parliament amendments to the Local Government Act to provide for, among other things, the establishment of the Local Government Service Commission. This would oversee all matters of recruitment and placement of professional staff in local authorities. The effort would reduce the perceived political interference and intimidation of professionals by councilors.
Your Committee recommended that the building of Government structures should revert to the Ministry of Works and Supply. This would allow for adequate monitoring, control and evaluation.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the issue of the Ministry of Works and Supply building infrastructure on behalf of other ministries would be tabled a the Joint Committee on land use.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and request a progress report on the delivery of predictable grants that will not only help the Councils retain qualified staff, but also provide services to the communities they serve.
Your Committee requests a progress report on the amendment of the Local Government Act to provide for the establishment of the Local Government Service Commission.
57 Your Committee further requests a progress report on the efforts to ensure that the building of Government structures reverts back to the Ministry of Works and Supply.
Ministry of Education
Sports in Action
Your previous Committee observes that Zambia had few and sub-standard sports shops. It, therefore, called for the establishment of a trust fund for the provision of sports equipment to schools and institutions of higher learning. In the Action-Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Affairs was yet to resubmit the proposal for the establishment of a Sports Development Fund.
Your previous Committee observed that sport was a cross-cutting issue and therefore, its activities should be streamlined in all the Ministries.
In the Action-Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry would consider the recommendation and make consultations with Cabinet and other ministries on how the above could be implemented.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government. It requests a progress report on the establishment of a sports lottery, which will finance sports associations and also assist in the rehabilitation and maintenance of sports infrastructure.
Your Committee further requests a progress report on the streamlining of sport in all the ministries.
The Zambia Basic School Sports Association
Your previous Committee recommended that the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development should work together to ensure that the Zambia Basic School Sports Association is nationally recognised and supported.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Zambia Basic School Sports Association was a recognised affiliate of the National Sports Council of Zambia. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development was already working with the Ministry of Education on the issue of strengthening the Zambia Basic School Sports Association.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and request a progress report on the improvement of funding of sport in the Zambian basic schools.
58 The Zambia Secondary Schools Sports Association
Your previous Committee was informed that the Education Policy was a principle that all teachers and officers were supposed to be acquainted with. When the Education Policy was launched, all schools and colleges across the country were availed copies of the same. However, with the passage of time, more sensitization was necessary.
Based upon these observations, your Committee recommended that members of educational sports associations should be fully acquainted with the current Zambian Educational Policy.
Your previous Committee recommended that swimming should be reintroduced as a major school sports event. The Government should ensure that there was a functional swimming pool in at least one school in all the districts in Zambia.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that swimming was one of the sporting activities that required support. Unfortunately, schools with this facility had found it expensive to maintain and many had been closed. Secondly, inadequately trained teachers in the swimming discipline had discouraged schools to have swimming pools. Currently, there was no college where swimming was fully taught. Therefore, until such a time as adequate facilities at training institutions were in place, could swimming not be expected to thrive. Thirdly, the lack of trained instructors had resulted in deaths during swimming lessons. This had led to further reluctance of promoting swimming in schools.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a report on the sensitisation of teachers on the Education Policy.
Your Committee requests a progress report on the re-establishment of swimming as a major sports activity in learning institutions. Your Committee also requests a progress report on the establishment of one functional swimming pool in at least one school in each one of the seventy-two districts.
Independent Schools of Zambia (ISAZ)
Your previous Committee observed that membership to the Independent Schools Association of Zambia was restricted to only thirty schools throughout Zambia. They recommended that more should be done to expose the Independent Schools Association of Zambia on the National and International levels.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Independent Schools Association of Zambia would firstly affiliate itself to the various sports association in the country. This would allow it to be legible to participate at local and international levels.
59 Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the affiliation of the Independent Schools Association of Zambia to major national and international Sports Associations.
Sports Facilities in Institutions of Learning
Ministry of Education
The University of Zambia (UNZA) Sports Facilities
Your previous Committee observed that, generally, the Sports Hall infrastructure was still very solid. However, they were disappointed to observe that the University of Zambia, the highest institution of learning in the country, had basic and poorly maintained sports facilities. Your Committee, therefore, recommended that the University of Zambia should be supported fully to develop a full Faculty of Physical Education and Sport. This facility should further develop into an Institute of Sport to regulate the qualifications of Sports Administrators.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child affairs had given its undivided support to the University of Zambia in laying a solid foundation to develop the Faculty of Physical Education. A Diploma in Sport programme was launched and officiated by the Hon. Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development at the University of Zambia in 2009. Further, a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Zambia and Louthborough College in the United Kingdom had already been signed. The validation process of the Diploma in Sports Studies was awaiting completion.
Your Committee acknowledged the positive development on the introduction of the Diploma in Sport at the University of Zambia. It recommended that the programme should be further developed into a full time degree programme. In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that to demonstrate its commitment to this idea, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development had attached a Chief Sports Development Officer to lecture on a part time basis at UNZA. The Diploma had been recommended by the School of Education. It was waiting to be discussed by the Senate Sub-Committee of Syllabus and Curriculum Review.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and request a progress report on the commencement of the Diploma in Sports Programme at the University of Zambia.
60 Nkwame Nkrumah Teachers Training College
Your previous Committee recommended that the Government should seriously consider allocating the former Pan-African International Development Education for Southern Africa (PAID - ESA) land to Nkrumah College.
In the Action–Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government was committed to expeditiously handing over the former PAID- ESA land to Nkrumah Teachers Training College. This would allow for expansion of the sports fields.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the acquisition of modern sports equipment and on the building of an ultra modern sports hall at the College. Your Committee further requests a progress report on the allocation of PAID-ESA land to Nkrumah Teacher Training College.
The Copperbelt University
Your previous Committee recommended that the Copperbelt University should study and establish a public/private partnership with various business houses on the Copperbelt. This would help to develop sports infrastructure on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the corporate world would be approached as an alternative but not as a replacement of the Government’s direct budget support to sports and recreation infrastructure development. The Copperbelt University would commence negotiations and enter into a public/private Partnership with willing local and international business houses. The aim of the partnership would be to develop the sport and recreation infrastructure on Build, Operate and Transfer terms. In this regard, there were several business houses willing to partner with the University.
Your previous Committee recommended that the University should re-examine its policy regarding the sponsorship of sports activities by commercial houses. Currently, the sponsorship was restricted to avoid the exploitation of students. However, the University could negotiate to ensure that conditions set are acceptable for both parties and are non exploitative.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that once the facilities had been developed to international standards, more business houses would be approached to sponsor the various sporting activities. Companies would be allowed to advertise at acceptable but profitable rates. Monies raised would be ploughed back into the maintenance of the facilities. Sports teams and individual students who distinguished themselves would be encouraged to accept sponsorship from business houses. This would benefit the teams, individuals players and the University.
61
Your previous Committee recommended that the University should ensure that the number of Sports Assistants is upgraded to the required four.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that it would be necessary to strengthen the Sports and Recreation Section of the Copperbelt University through the recruitment of well qualified sports administrators and trainers. In the initial stage, it would be necessary to fill the three vacant positions with two Sports Officers and one Assistant Sports Officer. Later, qualified coaches for selected sports codes, would be employed.
For the purpose of equality and gender balancing, the University would endeavour to recruit one female Sports Officer and one male Assistant Sports Officer. In this way, the female students would be more willing to participate in sport than was the case currently.
Your Committee was further informed that provinces and districts had been advised to work closely with local Government authorities and the surrounding communities. This was in an effort to protect sports infrastructure in the schools and colleges.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the implementation of the Sports and Recreation Infrastructure Development Fund. Your Committee also requests a progress report on the establishment of a public/private partnership with willing local or international business houses.
Your Committee further requests a progress report on the recruitment of two Sports Officers and an Assistant Sports Officer at the Copperbelt University.
Solwezi College of Education
Your Committee made the observations set out hereunder.
(i) The College had a reasonably well maintained sports field. (ii) The College had some sports equipment. However, these were inadequate and out dated. (iii) The College was actively involved in the promotion of traditional Zambian sports. It had developed some equipment for the traditional games. (iv) The funding for the college was erratic and sport development funding was not clearly outlined in the College budget. (v) The College had only one Physical Education Lecturer as compared to four for the other subjects. (vi) Physical Education was not examinable at the end of the academic year. As a result, students paid very little attention to it.
62 In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the College had a budget line under a programme called Curriculum Development and Education Materials. This, however, was not adequate. In addition, students paid sports fees which supplemented Government funding to the sports sector.
Your Committee was informed that the current staff establishment at the College provided for only one lecturer in physical education. However, due to increased enrolment, the College now needed three Physical Education lecturers to handle twelve classes. Your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Education would seek authority from the Management Development Division to revise the staff establishment at the College.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the introduction of a policy that will ensure that funds meant for sport development under the Curriculum Development and Education Materials are clearly outlined.
Your Committee requests a progress report on the enrolment of more physical education lecturers at the college.
Your Committee further requests a report indicating reasons why physical education is not examined at the College despite Government declaring it examinable since 1992.
Solwezi Technical High School
Your Committee recommended that the Government should adequately and regularly fund schools. A clear and specific amount in the funding should be set aside for sports development.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the school had a budget line under a program called Curriculum Development and Educational Materials. Sports activities drew funding from this program. However, the funding was not adequate. In addition, pupils paid sports fees which supplemented Government funding.
Your Committee recommended that the Government should ensure that tax on sports equipment was waived.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the above measure was already in place. Sports Associations, NGOs and business houses that choose to import sports equipment and requisites through the National Sports Council of Zambia or the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development had tax waived.
Your Committee recommended that the Government should refund Physical Education examination fees collected from pupils.
63 In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that when it was learnt that there was not going to be Physical Education Examinations at Grade twelve for the year 2009, pupils were quickly advised to choose alternative subjects. All pupils in this situation sat for alternative subjects of their own choice. The examination fees paid for physical education covered the cost of alternative subjects.
Your previous Committee recommended that the Government should prepare adequately for the examination of Physical Education.
In the Action–Taken Report, your Committee was informed that physical education had been examinable since 1992. It was one of the courses students had to pass to qualify.
Your Committee observed the poor workmanship on the basketball court at the Solwezi Technical High School. It recommended that a thorough scrutiny of the utilisations of the funds and the contractor used should be instituted. A large amount of money was spent on the resurfacing of the basket ball court. The court developed cracks after a few weeks of use.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that resurfacing of the basketball court was done at the time when the North Western Province was about to host the Inter-Provincial games. The court should have been used twenty-one days after resurfacing. This would have allowed the court to cure. However, the school was the only institution with a facility to be used by teams from other provinces. The courts were, therefore, used only three days after completion of the works. The curing process was disturbed. The school had planned to work on the basketball court this year, 2010, using sports funds collected from pupils.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee requests a clarification on whether the examination of Physical Education in schools has actually been taking place since 1992.
Your Committee further wishes to register its great disappointment at the misuse of funds by the Solwezi Technical High School on the basketball court. Your Committee recommends that, in future, adequate planning should be put in place to allow for the proper repair and maintenance of sports infrastructure.
Solwezi Stadium
Your previous Committee recommended that an audit on the utilisation of the K100 million for the rehabilitation of Provincial Stadiums should be carried out.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the audit on the usage of the K100 million for the rehabilitation of Solwezi Stadium was supposed to be undertaken by the North-Western Provincial Administration's internal auditors. However, the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development would send its internal auditor in 2010 to undertake this task.
64 Your previous Committee recommended that the Government should ensure that each one of the provincial stadiums had a long term rehabilitation and maintenance schedule.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that all provincial sport co-ordinators had been directed to put in place long-term rehabilitation and maintenance schedules within the available funding.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a report on the Ministry’s internal auditor’s finding on the utilisation of the K100 million meant for the rehabilitation of provincial sports infrastructure. Your Committee further recommends for a review of the financial regulations to allow for the recognition of the office of the Provincial Sports Departments.
Your Committee also requests a progress report on the development of long term rehabilitation and maintenance schedules for provincial stadiums.
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development
Jesus Cares Ministry
Your previous Committee learnt with sadness that despite taking up a building in partnership with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, the Jesus Cares Ministry were not carrying out any activities there. The Ministry had approached the Jesus Cares Ministries to inform them that they would soon repossess the building and partner with another organisation. Your Committee strongly recommended that Jesus Cares Ministries should seriously take up the challenge of implementing its activities.
In the Action-Taken Report, your Committee was informed that a meeting with Jesus Cares Ministries had been planned for the first quarter of 2010. Other NGOs dealing with protection of children's rights were also invited to participate in the drawing out of a programme to be undertaken at the Child Guidance Centre in Solwezi. A Memorandum of Understanding on the utilization of the centre would be concluded during this meeting.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the drawing up of a programme for the utilisation of the Child Guidance Centre in Solwezi.
65 Action-Taken Report for the Second Session of the Tenth National Assembly
Ministry of Communications and Transport
Your previous Committee recommended that the Road Traffic Act should be revised and strengthened to ensure that once encountered at road blocks, faulty vehicles should be immediately impounded.
Your Committee also requested to be provided with a progress report on the consideration of Subsidiary Legislation under the Road Traffic Act.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Law Review Committee did not meet until 26th August, 2009. This was due to the resignation of the then Road Traffic Safety Agency Legal Counsel and also due to inadequate resources. During this meeting, the Law Review Committee agreed that it required to have Terms of Reference stipulating its mandate by the Road Transport Safety Agency Board. On 9th December, 2009 at the 10th Technical Committee Meeting, the Terms of Reference for the Law Review Committee were recommended for approval by the Board. The Law Review Committee was scheduled to hold a meeting on 10th March, 2010 to come up with a detailed schedule of its activities, including the time-frame and expected outputs on the exercise.
Committee‘s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the consideration of subsidiary legislation under the Road Traffic Act.
Ministry of Education
Your previous Committee requested a report clearly stating the districts where the sensitisation program against vandalism had taken place, and the results of the exercise.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government had taken note of the request and would prepare a comprehensive report which would show the program content, districts covered and outcomes of the sensitization program.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and awaits the progress report.
Zambia Amateur Athletics Association
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the results of the interaction between the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association and the National Sports Council of Zambia.
66 In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association and the National Sports Council of Zambia were already interacting and working together in identifying talent in schools and colleges.
Your previous Committee recommended that the National Sports Council of Zambia and the National Olympics Committee of Zambia should ensure that the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association's administration and accounts were thoroughly checked and streamlined before the next batch of funding was provided.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government had directed the National Sports Council of Zambia to address the matter of finances with the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association. The Government was still awaiting a detailed report from the National Sports Council of Zambia. The report would be availed to the Committee as the soon as the National Sports Council of Zambia completed its assignment.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and awaits the progress report.
The National Paralympics Committee of Zambia (NPC)
Your previous Committee observed that the National Paralympics Committee had an ambitious programme. Your Committee recommended for more Government support to the National Paralympics Committee. They further recommended that the Government should consider Disacare, a local Wheelchair manufacturing firm, for the provision of sports equipment for the disabled. This would be much cheaper than importing the equipment and it would promote local industry.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that from the last Action Taken Report to date, there had been no need for procurement of sports equipment. Though it was the responsibility of the NPC to procure the equipment should need arise, the Ministry would take necessary steps to ensure that Disacare was considered for the purchase of sports equipment for the disabled.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the procurement of sports equipment under the NPC, and on the consideration of Disacare as the supplier.
Ministry of Works and Supply
Zambia National Tender Board
In the Action–Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the operations of the Zambia Public Procurement Authority had led to reduction of delays in the
67 procurement of goods and services used in the rehabilitation works at the national stadium.
However, delays with regard to procuring rehabilitation works at the Independence Stadium could be attributed to the high prices received from bidders who expressed interest in the works. As a result of the high prices, the works had to be re-tendered. The first tenders for the construction of the grand stand were K246,028,050,707.34 and K286,545,401,666.00. These were substantially far above the cost of the new stadium in Ndola currently under construction.
The second tender was based on a modified design for the grandstand. This bid did not bring cost reduction either. The lowest tender came in at K209,411,343,444.76 which was still higher than the cost of a completely new stadium.
Authority was granted to the Ministry of Works and Supply to negotiate with the two bidders. The negotiations failed to yield any reasonable cost reduction.
All these processes were done in collaboration with the Zambia Public Procurement Authority.
The failure to obtain a favourable bid led the Government to opt for assistance from the Chinese Government. The Chinese Government gave Zambia a concessionary loan for the construction of a 15, 000 capacity grandstand for the old Independence Stadium and the construction of a new stadium with a capacity of 50, 000 within Independence Stadium grounds. The loan had since been approved and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority was in the process of approving the solicitation document.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the approval of the solicitation document.
An assessment of the implementation of the constituency youth development fund
Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
Caritas-Zambia
Your previous Committee requested a progress report on the plans by the Government to create a separate fund specifically for Youth Empowerment.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission Fund had been able to handle the youth appropriately. It would continue to do so despite the difficulties encountered in the initial set up stage. It was the wish of the Government through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission Fund
68 to see to it that the number of individual youths and indeed youth groups accessing the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission Fund increased.
Additionally, your Committee was informed that Government, through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, approved the re-introduction of the Youth Development Fund. In this regard, K5 billion had been provided for in the 2010 National Budget for this purpose.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the operations of the re – introduced Youth Development Fund. Your Committee requests to be provided with the guidelines, terms of reference and the number of youths who have so far been assisted through the re-introduced Youth Fund.
Ministry of Local Government and Housing
Tour of the Olympic Swimming Pool
In the Action – Take Report, your Committee was informed that the Lusaka City Council had not prioritised the rehabilitation of the Olympic Swimming Pool because of budgetary limitations. As a result of this, no progress had been made in the rehabilitation of the pool. In view of the foregoing, the Ministry of Local Government and Housing had directed the Lusaka City Council to make budgetary provision for the rehabilitation of the Olympic Swimming pool.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and request a progress report on the rehabilitation of the Olympic Swimming pool in Lusaka.
Ministry of Education
Tour of University of Zambia
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that before the Government withdrew from hosting the All Africa Games, both the barricade fence and the wall fence at the University of Zambia were successfully completed. The construction of hostels had stalled due to Government’s withdrawal from hosting the All African Games. The Ministry of Education had since taken over the project.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the construction of sports facilities at the University of Zambia.
69 Ministry of Communications and Transport
Tour of Lusaka International Airport
Your previous Committee requested an update report on the rehabilitation of the Lusaka International Airport.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee were informed that Phase one of the renovations at Lusaka International Airport had since been completed. The works included floor tiling and remodeling of the international departure Lounge to have five duty free shops, business class lounge, restaurant, coffee shop and procurement of new passenger chairs. A passenger assist vehicle "Ambulift" procured by ZEGA Limited was currently available for use during aircraft embarkation and disembarkation of disabled persons.
Phase two included the renovations of the immigration hall and installation of a Held-Baggage X-Ray machine which would be integrated with new check in- counters. Immigration counters would be delivered upon completion of Phase two of the renovations.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the completion of phase two of the renovations at the Lusaka International Airport.
Ministry of Education
Tour of Kambule High School, Mongu-Western Province and Hillcrest Technical High School, Livingstone–Southern Province
Your previous Committee requested a progress report on the rehabilitation of sports facilities at the above two schools. In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed as outlined hereunder:
(i) Kambule High School No major rehabilitation works had been carried out on the sports facilities due to lack of funds. The whole school required major rehabilitation to meet the required standards. The Ministry had advised the District Education Board Secretary to include the activity in the District Infrastructure Plans.
(ii) Hillcrest Technical High School The Swimming Pool had not been rehabilitated due to the lack of funds. All pledges which were made for funds had not been met, The Ministry advised the District Education Board Secretary to include the activity in the District Infrastructure Plans.
70 Committee‘s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the renovation of sports facilities at the two schools. The report should include progress on the swimming pool at Hillcrest Technical High School.
Action-Taken Report for the First Session of the Tenth National Assembly
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development National Sports Council Act and Professional Boxers and Wrestlers Control Board Act
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the revision of the Professional Boxers and Wrestlers Control Board Act.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the revised copies of the National Sports Council of Zambia Act and the Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board Act had in principle been approved by Cabinet. The Bills had since been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Justice for further legal advice before presentation to Parliament.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the revision of the Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board Act are the National Sports Council of Zambia Act.
National Sports Council of Zambia
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the enactment of a law that would regulate selling and land leasing of former ZCCM Sports facilities.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the matter would be handled by the Zambia Development Agency.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government. It requests a progress report on the enactment of an Act to regulate the sell and leasing of former ZCCM sports facilities.
Ministry of Local Government and Housing
Zambia Volleyball Association
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the evaluation exercise to be carried out on the implementation of the National Decentralisation Policy.
71 In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that Government ministries would soon embark on the process of preparing devolution plans. These would be in line with the approved Decentralisation Implementation Plan. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, in collaboration with various stakeholders in sports development, would prepare a devolution plan to guide sports associations on how to get their structures operational at district level.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the evaluation of the National Decentralisation Policy.
Ministry of Lands
Zambia Motor Sports Association
Your previous Committee requested to be furnished with a progress report on the efforts of the Government to ensure that land was availed to the Zambia Motor Sports Association. In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development had requested the Zambia Motor Sports Association to identify a piece of land that could be availed to them through the Ministry of Lands. However, to-date, Zambia Motor Sports Association had not responded to this arrangement. It was expected that by the end of 2010, the Zambia Motor Sports Association would have been allocated land for Motor Sport development.
Committee’s Observations Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the allocation of land to the Zambia Motor Sport Association. Your Committee would like a clarification on whether a follow up has been made on the land offer to the Motor Sports Association. Your Committee also awaits information on whether there has been any response from the Motor Sports Association on the land offer.
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development
The Zambia Rugby Union
Your previous Committee requested a progress report on whether the Kitwe City Council had responded favourably to the request for the Zambia Rugby Union to have full access to the Kitwe Playing Fields. In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee were informed that the Ministry had written to the Kitwe City Council requesting them to avail Kitwe Playing Fields to the Zambia Rugby Union. The Ministry was still waiting for response from the Kitwe City Council. It was expected that this matter would be finalized by December, 2010.
72 Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the availing of the Kitwe playing fields to the Zambia Rugby union.
Assessment of the rehabilitation and skills training of street children in the Zambia National Service Camps
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the efforts to establish an agreement with the mines and other organisations with a view to provide practical training to the youths under the Zambia National Services Training Camps.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry had in fact communicated in writing to various companies requesting them to provide practical training to the youth. The Ministry was awaiting responses from the organizations that had been written to.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the provision of practical training to youths by various companies who had been written to.
Ministry of Defence
Zambia National Service
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the purchase of skills training equipment for the youths in the Zambia National Service Training Camps.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry had budgeted for this very important task of acquiring skills training equipment. An amount of K50 million had been set aside for this activity in the 2010 budget.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the procurement of training equipment.
Zambia Red Cross Society
Your previous Committee requested a progress report on the assessment of the suitability of Mwange Refugee Camp for establishment of a skills training and rehabilitation center for street children.
73 In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development visited Mwange Refuge Camp and found it suitable to be turned into a youth rehabilitation and settlement area. However, it had been brought to the attention of the Ministry that the camp would only be made available when all the refugees there were repatriated.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the availability of the Camp for skills training and rehabilitation of the Street Kids.
Ministry of Defence
Chishimba Zambia National Service Camp, Kasama
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the rehabilitation of the Chishimba Zambia National Service Camp.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry had budgeted for the rehabilitation of Chishimba National Service Camp in the 2010 National Budget. The Ministry had communicated (written) to the Ministry of Defence proposing that rehabilitation works commence in January, 2010.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the rehabilitation of the Chishimba Zambia National Service camp.
Action-Taken Report on the Report of the Committee for the Fourth Session of the Ninth National Assembly
Promotion of the Construction and Maintenance of Sports Infrastructure and Facilities in Zambia
Ministry of Education
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the efforts to provide title deeds to properties under the Ministry of Education.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Education was working with the Ministry of Lands towards the acquisition of title deeds for educational institutions. This was to safeguard the land under the Ministry. This was very urgent, particularly for educational institutions in the urban areas. Councils had not been helpful because they had contributed to the demarcation and offer of educational land to private organizations and individuals. University of Zambia land was a case of reference to this problem. It was hoped that the efforts of the Ministry of Education would succeed to achieve this goal. This effort required the support of all stakeholders including
74 Members of Parliament, who were members of the local authorities in their respective constituencies.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and request a progress report on the procurement of the deeds for land belonging to the Ministry of Education.
Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development
National Sports Council of Zambia
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on Government's efforts to construct an ultra modern stadium in Livingstone.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government was still in consultation with renowned Chinese construction firms. The Government was exploring the possibility of finding a strategic partner for the construction of an ultra modern stadium in Livingstone. Construction would commence when contract negotiations were completed and financial resources were made available through a concessionary loan from the People's Republic of China.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the construction of an ultra modern stadium in Livingstone.
Ministry of Local Government and Housing
Edu-sport Foundation
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the efforts of the Lusaka City Council in providing land for Edu-sport Foundation.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that Edu-sport was advised to formalize their request to Government. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development was still awaiting the request to formalize logistics with the Ministry of Lands.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the provision of land to the Edu-sport Foundation.
75 Zambia Amateur Athletics Association
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the efforts made to maintain play parks and other sporting facilities in the Country. In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Government had been liaising with the local authorities countrywide on the acquisition of old disused council buildings to be utilised as reading and recreation centres for children. So far, Kimasala Community Centre in Solwezi District had been renovated and was being used for such purposes. Funds had been allocated in the 2010 budget specifically for this activity.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on Government’s efforts to maintain play parks and other sporting facilities.
Ministry of Education
Early Childhood Care, Development and Education
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the establishment of a national curriculum and syllabus for Early Childhood Care, Development and Education.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the curriculum framework for Early Childhood Care, Development and Education was developed in 2009. The Ministry was in the process of organizing a consultative meeting with stakeholders to discuss the framework before it could be finalized and fully developed.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government and requests a progress report on the development of a curriculum and syllabus for Early Childhood Care, Development and Education.
Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Development
Care International
Your previous Committee had requested to be provided with a progress report on the revision of laws governing child development in Zambia.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Audit Report on the pieces of legislation that needed to be reviewed had been undertaken under the leadership of the Zambia Law Development Commission. The report outlined recommendations on the review of legislation governing child development in Zambia. These would help to enhance the protection of children and
76 conform to international conventions and treaties.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from Government. It requests a progress report on the revision of laws governing child development in Zambia.
Action-Taken Report on the Report of the Committee for the Third Session of the Ninth National Assembly
Study of Government Policy on the Growing Problem of Youth Illiteracy and Unemployment
Ministry of Labour and Social Security
The International Labour Organisation
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on the efforts to increase funding to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that funding to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security was acknowledged and appreciated. However, the Ministry still remained one of the lowest funded. Regrettably, the budgetary allocation for 2010 was only increased by K1.4 billion and currently stood at K18 billion. This was clearly not adequate. Funding of about K30 billion would be ideal for the Ministry to adequately execute its mandate. However, with increased economic activity, funding to the Ministry would be accordingly increased.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and requests a progress report on the efforts to increase funding to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The Zambia Folk Dance and Music Society
Your previous Committee had requested a progress report on Government’s efforts to hold a symposium for the youth and other stakeholders in arts and culture.
In the Action – Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the symposium would be held in 2010. This was, however, dependant on the availability of funds from the national treasury.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and request a progress report on the holding of a youth symposium.
77 The Zambia National Visual Arts Council
Your previous Committee had requested an update on the review of the Copyright Act.
In the Action–Taken Report, your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services submitted instructions in 2010 to the Ministry of Justice regarding the amendment of the Copyright and Performance Rights Act . A draft amendment bill had since been prepared and would be subject to consultations with the various stakeholders. Once the consultations were completed, the amendment bill would be submitted to Parliament.
Committee’s Observations and Recommendations
Your Committee takes note of the response from the Government and request a progress report on the review of the Copyright Act.
Conclusion
In conclusion, your Committee wish to extend their gratitude to you, Mr Speaker, for appointing them to serve on this Committee. They also thank the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the services rendered during the year.
They are indebted to the witnesses who appeared before them for their cooperation and provision of the necessary memorandum and briefs.
Your Committee is hopeful that the observations and recommendations contained in this Report will go a long way in ensuring that Zambia successfully tackles the challenges in the management and development of football.
L J Ngoma, MP June, 2010 CHAIRPERSON LUSAKA
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