By MICHAEL MIYOBA
NATIONAL Organisation for Women in Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation (NOWSPAR) Executive Director Matilda Mwaba has died.
Born on August 8, 1957, Mwaba died on Monday at the Levy Mwanswasa Hospital in Lusaka following an illness.
Her death was announced yesterday by her brother Justin Mwaba who said that the funeral gathering is in Chelstone, Lusaka.
Mwaba, a former chairperson of the Zambia Police Judo Club from 1997-1998 leaves behind three children, two daughters and one son.
And the National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) said it was saddened by the death of Mwaba who served on its Board.
“As a sports administrator, she will be remembered as having been a torch bearer in the ushering of other women into the sector especially through NOWSPAR which she founded.
“She will be remembered as a beacon for gender equality in sport. In this regard, NOCZ would like to join, not just the sports fraternity but the rest of the country in celebrating the life of Mwaba,” said NOCZ president Alfred Foloko.
Meanwhile, Zambia Athletics president Elias Mpondela described Mwaba who was the first female Zambia Judo Association president as a committed sports administrator who contributed massively to the growth of female participation in sports.
“This is so sad. A wonderful woman devoted to developing sport and especially participation of women in sport in the country and abroad, Matildah Mwaba, May her spirit of commitment and enthusiasm to sport development remain and continue to inspire us to do more, beyond what she did,” said Mpondela.
And the Football Association of Zambia hailed Mwaba for being a great advocate of sports development.
