Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili, has warned of taking stern action against the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) if it hinders development of aquatic sports through exorbitant parking fees.
Mr Kambwili said Zambia’s rich water resources belonged to the people and he would not hesitate to take punitive action against ZAWA in the event that parking fees remained high to discourage people from engaging in aquatic sports such as rowing.
“I do not want to hear that ZAWA is putting up exorbitant parking fees to block development of aquatic sports otherwise, heads will roll,” he said.
Mr Kambwili, who was accompanied by National Director for Sports, Bernard Nakachinda, said this in Livingstone today at the 2012 Regatta held under the theme: ‘Rowing against gender based violence.’
And the minister cautioned organizers of sports events countrywide to have uniform winners’ prizes for men and women as it was unacceptable to have men receiving prizes of higher value than their female counterparts in the same competitions.
Mr Kambwili noted with displeasure that Kazungula Youths scooped a K7 million first prize in the men’s category while Zambezi Boat Club received K5.5 million despite scooping the first prize in the women’s category, indicating a difference of K1.5 million.
“I issued instructions in Ndola three months ago which you might have missed. Therefore, I am challenging organizers to ensure prizes for men and women in competitions are the same,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kambwili stated that both his ministry and the provincial administration supported the introduction of sports tourism as a program under the department of sports.
He revealed that rowing and angling (fishing competition) were identified as some of the aquatic sports in which Zambia had a comparative advantage to showcase the potential of growing sports tourism ahead of the 20thSession of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly to be co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe next year.
“Take advantage of the sports tourism program and work closely with my sports coordinator on sports tourism with the 2013 UNWTO General Assembly in mind,” he said.
Mr Kambwili further said he was challenged to see South Africa reap a gold medal in rowing at the just ended London 2012 Olympic Games and believed Zambia could also perform well given its large quantity of water in the region which provided comparative advantage.
He directed Provincial Sports Coordinators in Northern, Luapula, Western, North Western and Southern Provinces to spearhead the development of rowing and ensure that Zambia would have a formidable team for the Brazil 2016 Olympic Games.
The majority of teams that participated in this year’s Regatta were local, while four teams came from Kazungula district and one team from Western Province.
Kazungula Youths scooped a K7 million first prize in the men’s category while Auto World got the second prize of K5 million. Third and fourth place races failed to take off due to limited time and they were suppose to get K3.5 million and K2.5 million respectively.
It was for this reason that organizers combined the prizes for third and fourth places and split it in half for the deserving teams.
Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Zambezi Boat Club scooped first prize and received K5.5 million while Wapoka came in second and the rest of the competitors got various consolation prizes.
ZANIS
But why do they charge so much? Mr minister sir dialogue with them instead of issuing threats.
But why should heads row? ZAWA obviously want to maximise their collections from the Bazungu because they are the ones who row. Let us not accuse parking fees its our attitude towards these sports. How many adults in Zambia own rowing boats? How many of us even know which rivers to go to row from apart from Livingstone? is it true that only L/stone has rowing spots. Ba Minister its a matter of tabling things why should you spoil what is supposed to be a good moment with unnecessary threats.Limbi ebu Minister?
Thank u Bwana Minister, U r the best Minister i have noticed, very action orientated. Last time u came, u gave us our swiming pool back, this time u have given back the River side to the rightfull people. Sureley, do children from Maramba, libuyu and Linda compound have to pay TEN pin , just to do some fishing for relish?? ZAWA , is not Good, Bwana Minister. Thay are charging hundred pin to go on Boat, Who can afford that.?? Thank u so much, hope they are not only hot words.Bwana Minister.
BUFFOON Kambwili at it again, instead of sitting down with ZAWA and mapping out a 50/50 beneficial policy for both parties he goes to media to make statements and issuing threats… What powers is he going to use to take stern action on ZAWA since he is a sports minister? We deserve better….
Its park fees. The event is taking place in a national park. We all know that kambwili is dull
Don’t blame Kambwili, it is the Editor & his reporter who got the wrong end of the stick & take it to be “Parking fees” rather than “Park Fees”
The other day this buffoon of a minister was threatening a Prison official with transfer to Shamgombo if he doesn’t undertake his requests…
If the park fees are reduced, i tell you revenue collection will be less. I know even sata will differ with you on this. You will end up at the ministry in charge of chiefs if u r not carefull.
KAMBIWILI AND GBM ARE SO SELFISH THAT THEY HAVE MADE LIFE FOR SUPPLIERS AND CONTRACTORS AT MOPANI COPPER MINE A LIVING HELL.ACC PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE TWO MINISTERS.
This Minister is Good, very good, please support him.We know what he means, this ZAWA is very Corrupt. There is a German, very selfish, who is corrupt.Please take him out from there. The river is for all to enjoy, not only for mazungus, Plese Bwana ministr, do something, twenty years is a long time, only muzungus are enjoying, no one else.
How much does Kambwili bench press?
For Angling(Fishing) to succeed, you need to develop a “Catch & Return” policy, otherwise you have no prize fish to compete for – so, “catch & Eat” should be something of the past. However it is all dependent on fish stock, alternatively you can develop sport fishing sanctuaries where “catch & return” can be implemented!!
Hon Kambwili, while your intetions a well meaning, your actions may be detrimental to other institutions like in this case ZAWA. This institutions like any other needs to survive and needs government support. ZAWA provides jobs to over 1000 people and so they need the money. Such statements can destroy the institution together with the 1000 jobs it provides directly and the million other who depend on it. Believe me, compared to other countries, what ZAWA charges is minimal.
ZAWA is under the Ministry of Tourism. But this man has the guts to cross into someone else’s portfolio. Government made simple.
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