Zambia, Cuba sign sport bilateral agreement

—Zambia and Cuba have today signed an agreement which is aimed at reinvigorating bilateral relationships in the field of sport and physical education between the two countries.

The agreement was first signed between the two governments in 2007 but there was laxity on the part of Zambia to implement it.

Minister of Youth and Sport, Chishimba Kambwili, signed the agreement on behalf of the Zambian government while Cuban Minister of International Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, Christiano Jimenez Molina, signed on behalf of his government.

Kambwili said after the signing ceremony in Havana today that the agreement will greatly benefit Zambia in terms of sports development and management in the country.

He said the agreement will enable the Latin-American Caribbean country to send more sports experts to Zambia while more Zambians will be sent to Cuba for training in sports.

He noted that the two countries had been enjoying warm and cordial relations for a long time now.

“This marks the beginning of better sport in Zambia despite not having enough resources. This has opened up a new chapter in sport,” he said.

Kambwili said Cuba has proved that inadequate resources were not a hindrance to sports development in a country.

He explained that with limited resources and basic infrastructure, Cuba has managed to produce world champions in many sports disciplines.

The minister said Zambia will do the same, adding that sport should be linked to the education system so as to produce literate sportsmen and women who would remain useful to the country even when they have retired from active sport.

He further said physical education should be introduced early in one’s life so as to guarantee inborn physical fitness of athletes.

The signing took place at the International Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation and was witnessed by National Sports Council of Zambia chairman, Chifumu Banda, Parliamentary Committee on Youth Affairs and Sport chairperson, Levy Ngoma and Ministry of Youth and Sport Permanent Secretary, Agnes Musunga and Chief Sports Development Officer in the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Gibson Muyaule.

The agreement that has been signed will enable Zambia and Cuba work to foster technical cooperation and increase exchange of delegation, coaches, experts and specialists in the fields of physical education, sport and applied sciences.

The two countries will also exchange information, documents, study and methodological materials on physical education, sports and technical literature of each specialty and promote participation of professors in seminars, courses and scientific conferences on physical culture and sports.

It will also enable the two parties contribute to the achievement of higher sport levels in both countries and exchange proposals for sport tournaments annually.

The agreement will further facilitate for the transfer of coaches and specialists as technical advisors and the organization of training camps and upgrading courses.

It will be in force effective today for a period of five years and is extendable.

And Minister of International Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, Chritiano Jimenez Molina, said Zambia and Cuba have a lot to learn from each other in terms of sport.

Jimenez said Cuba has developed its sports disciplines through hard work of its citizens.

Kambwili has been in Cuba visiting various institutions of sport for five days now.