Reported by: Samuel Ernest.
Date: 25th February, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
The Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts has launched a two-day workshop focused on enhancing the management of community sports programmes following the devolution of sports functions to local government structures. The workshop aims to address challenges, streamline operations, and unlock opportunities to empower communities and develop grassroots sports.
Officiating the event, Ministry Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kangwa Chileshe, emphasized that decentralization provides local communities with greater autonomy to shape sports programmes that reflect their needs. He highlighted the transformative potential of devolution in expanding access to sports and fostering youth development at the grassroots level.
“The devolution of community sports functions from central to local government has created both opportunities and challenges. By placing decision-making power closer to communities, we can ensure that sports initiatives are more tailored, impactful, and sustainable,” Mr. Chileshe stated.
Bringing together Provincial Sports Development Coordinators (PSDCs) from across Zambia, the workshop provides a platform for stakeholders to refine strategies that will enhance sports infrastructure, funding, and community engagement.
“While we have made commendable strides in decentralizing sports programmes, we must address lingering obstacles that prevent sports from reaching its full potential as a tool for youth empowerment and social development,” Mr. Chileshe added.
He further commended participants for developing a working document that will serve as a blueprint for strengthening community sports structures.
The workshop will concentrate on:
- Clarifying roles and responsibilities within the decentralized sports framework to improve coordination and accountability.
- Setting performance targets and operational guidelines to ensure efficiency in programme execution.
- Developing monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and measure the impact of community sports initiatives.
- Reviewing and proposing policy recommendations to streamline the implementation of decentralized sports management.
The workshop marks a significant step towards institutionalizing a robust and sustainable community sports framework that aligns with Zambia’s broader youth development agenda. By strengthening sports governance at the local level, the government seeks to harness the power of sports for economic growth, social inclusion, and national unity.
As deliberations continue, stakeholders are expected to develop actionable strategies that will enhance sports access, encourage talent development, and foster community participation across the country.
The Agency.