NOCZ PAYS A COURTESY CALL ON THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT, AND ARTS

In a significant stride towards advancing sports development in Zambia, the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) Board, led by President Alfred Foloko, paid a courtesy visit to Honourable Elvis Nkandu, MP, the Minister of Youth, Sport, and Arts earlier today. This meeting aimed to foster understanding, address policy concerns, and establish collaboration for the betterment of the sports landscape.

The primary focus of the meeting was to acquaint Minister Nkandu with NOCZ's responsibilities and scope. The discussions encompassed technical and policy matters that hold relevance for both the Ministry and NOCZ.

The Minister extended gratitude to NOCZ for its engagement, noting that such interactions should have occurred earlier, underlining the shared commitment towards a thriving sports ecosystem.

Minister Nkandu (left) is reviewing the NOCZ Strategic Plan, the 2022 Executive Report, and the Newsletter publications, which were presented to him by NOCZ President Foloko (right).

Minister Nkandu emphasized NOCZ's pivotal role in advocating for sports development, aligning with governmental objectives. He encouraged NOCZ to continue its efforts in supporting the government's mission through diverse capacity-building initiatives aimed at nurturing national sports federations. Furthermore, he urged NOCZ to collaborate closely with the Ministry in addressing challenges faced by federations, especially in terms of adopting effective governance practices.

Minister Nkandu unveiled the Ministry's dedication to exploring funding avenues that can drive sports infrastructure development nationwide and serve as hubs for talent identification and nurturing, fostering the growth of athletes from all corners of Zambia.

Building on their shared aspirations, the Ministry and NOCZ agreed to formulate a comprehensive policy framework. This policy is poised to serve as a guide for relations and effective collaboration between the two entities, underscoring a unified approach in steering sports development strategies.

Acknowledging strides in the field, Minister Nkandu lauded the ongoing training of 22 Sports Administrators under the Advanced Sports Administration Course. In addition, he highlighted a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between DMI-St Eugene University and the Ministry, outlining collaborative 1700 Scholarships made available for the youth, and those in sports and Arts through the ministry to study at the university in any program of choice.

With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon, Minister Nkandu reaffirmed the government's unwavering support in preparing Team Zambia for the global stage.

To ensure sustained collaboration, Minister Nkandu proposed regular meetings between NOCZ and the Ministry of which the frequency of these meetings will be decided upon through mutual understanding.

NOCZ President Alfred Foloko conveyed heartfelt gratitude to Minister Nkandu for sparing time to engage with the NOCZ Board. Foloko recognized the Ministry's earnest efforts in spearheading sports development on a nationwide scale. This engagement was marked by the presence of Vice President Hazel Kennedy, Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi, and esteemed Board Members, including Dickson Jere, Daisy Kopolo, Mutale Masala, and Rodrick Ndhlovu, who also holds the esteemed position of Chef De Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.