Following a request from the Ministry of Youth Sport and Art, we were grateful that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning released full funding for athlete and support-staff allowances as part of a supplementary budget earlier this month.
We logged everyone in our system as quickly as we could but we recognise the anxiety that comes with delayed payments and, in a free society, people are able to criticise their government without fear of repression.
The truth is that we can never fully repay you; our athletes, your families, coaches, friends, and supporters for the incredible work you do representing Zambia on the world stage. You are priceless.
Any allowances you receive are just a small token of our appreciation, as a country, for the early morning trips to the swimming pool, the late nights at the running track, or the long hours spent at the gym.
While 90% of the team have now been paid their allowances in full, there were some delays for people with international bank accounts and we do apologise for this. We are working around the clock to improve our systems and we’re grateful for your patience.
We love our athletes, our youth, and our artists, and we will continue to lobby for them at home and overseas.
On a personal note, as a young civil servant, I am working day and night to improve our services to citizens and I am incredibly grateful for the time I have been able to spend with our athletes and their families over the past week.
The unprecedented success of our national team at this year’s Commonwealth games inspires us all to work even harder, as we develop the next generation of champions.
Thank you,
Kangwa Chileshe
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Art
