State counsels SADC on sport activities

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Southern African Postal Organisation (SAPOA) games that commenced in Lusaka yesterday, Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga called on postal administrators in the region to integrate these games in their local calendars for a strong, healthy and motivated workforce.
Seven countries from the region, including host, Zambia are taking part in the games which started yesterday and to end tomorrow and will have attracted 700 participants from the region.
Mukanga, who congratulated postal administrators in the SADC for organising the games urged them the further integrate the games into their local calendars so as to secure the health of their workers.
“Beyond these annual games, I urge all postal administrators in the region to integrate these games in their local calendars so that they can have a strong, healthy and motivated workforce,” he said.
The Minister said promotion of sports had the ability to lower incidences of Diabetes, high blood pressure and other ailments which had the ability to increase the medical costs of a company.
Mukanga said the Zambian Government was currently encouraging an increase in sporting activities through the provision of social amenities like stadia, youth development centres and sporting centres through the Ministry of Youth and Sport because it wanted a healthy and happy nation.
SAPOA games are an initiative of postal administrations in the SADC region which has drawn participation from seven countries namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST) public relations manager, Sonile Lintini said the main aim of the games is to promote health, team work and team bonding within the workforce and improving the morale of the workforce.
She said the table of content includes events such as football, athletics, netball, swimming, volleyball and golf.