STATEMENT BY NOCZ PRESIDENT ALFRED FOLOKO ON THE DEATH OF FORMER NOCZ PRESIDENT PATRICK CHAMUNDA

On behalf of the National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association of Zambia (NOC/CGA Zambia), I extend sincere heartfelt condolences to the Chamunda family and the Olympic Movement at large on the passing on of the Former NOC/CGA Zambia President, National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) Chairperson and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Chamunda.

It is with profound sadness that we learned of the death of the former NOC/CGA Zambia President who was a colleague and friend in the early hours of Sunday 14th August 2022.

He passed on while undergoing medical care in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mr. Chamunda, served the Sports Fraternity in different capacities on the National, Regional, and international stage from 1977 to 2016 as follows:

Treasurer (1977-1981), Vice-President (1981-1992) then President (1992-2005) of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ); Chef de Mission for the Games of the XXIII Olympiad Los Angeles 1984 and the XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988; Vice-President of the Zambia Golf Union (1985-1990); Chairperson of the National Sports Council of Zambia (1994-1998); President of the Confederation of NOCs of Southern Africa – Zone 6 (1997-2005); Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) (1997-2009); Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) (2002-2011); Treasurer General of ANOCA (2005-2009); ANOC Representative on the Foundation Board (2005-2013) and Member of the Finance and Administration Committee (2007-2015) of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2002 to 2015; Member of the following IOC Commissions: Sport for All (2002-2015), Finance (2006-2014); Member of the Audit Committee (2013-2016), and Honorary Member since 2016 until the time of his death.

Mr. Chamunda will be remembered for his exemplary leadership style throughout the years in and out of the sports fraternity.

We will never forget how instrumental he was in the setting up and implementation of the Sport for all project at OYDC Zambia as an Olympic Youth Development Centre after the centre was officially opened in 2010, which has seen star athletes emerge from the foundation he laid.

He has over the years played a key role in supporting the development of sports in Zambia and his expertise and knowledge in Sports Administration has seen him offer guidance to younger sports administrators on numerous occasions.

The late NOCZ President recently joined us for the NOCZ Annual General Meeting held in January, we were so humbled and thankful to have such a legend in our midst.

He further congratulated Team Zambia for putting up a splendid performance at the just-ended Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where Zambia minted three medals, 1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze Medal.

The nation has therefore lost a legend, mentor, and father who always provided guidance and advice whenever called upon to do so on the National, Regional, Continental, and Global Stage.

On behalf of the Olympic and Commonwealth Sports Movement in Zambia and on my own personal behalf, I extend again my profound condolences to Mr. Chamunda's family, and to the global sports fraternity at large, at this difficult time.

I urge everyone to celebrate his life and remain grateful to him for his contribution to the development of Sport in Zambia.

Our prayer is that God may strengthen his family and close friends in this trying period.

For and on behalf of the NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF ZAMBIA (NOCZ)

Alfred Foloko

President