Sun, 25 Jun 2017 10:30:49 +0000
By GRACE CHAILE LEOSETSA
THE Inter-Company Relay (ICR) will now be a national event and its inauguration has been planned for this September on the Copperbelt.
Speaking on behalf of the first lady Esther Lungu, at the 19th edition of the MultiChoice ICR held at Lusaka Show Grounds yesterday, Finance minister Felix Mutati said he would spear head fund-raising ventures to ensure that the event took place on the Copperbelt.
Mutati said he would accept the proposal that in the 2018 budget that government should consider to put aside some money for the national ICR event so that it can be hosted in other provinces as well.
Endorsing the idea Mutati said, “In this event, we are working towards raising K1 million for the athletes, today we demonstrated that the corporate world in partnership with Government can actually raise money without depending on outside help,” he said.
Mutati said that collective fitness was better than investment in drugs.
“We have all agreed that Zambia can only produce winners if we invest in sports. Yes, football is a sport that draws a large number, but I want us to invest in this event that will see people participate for wellness because, then there is no need to spend a lot of money on buying drugs,” the minister said.
And Higher Education minister Professor Nkandu Luo emphasised that athletics was equally important as football hence appealed to the corporate world to partner with Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) in to raise resources for athletes.
MultiChoice Zambia acting managing director Recha Kabwe reaffirmed the company’s strong belief that wellness was critical to the development of the nation in all spheres of economic and social development.
“The sponsorship of the ICR is one way of giving back to the customers who have been instrumental in the growth of our business in the over 22 years we have been operating in Zambia providing quality TV content,” Kabwe said.
ZAAA president Elias Mpondela commended the corporate world for massively supporting the event. Meanwhile, Zambia Correctional Service scooped the 2017 ICR championship after a good performance, dethroning 2016 winners Zambia Sugar. The Zambia Correctional Service also won the defence and security wing prize.
National Assembly scooped first position in the arms of government with Zanaco getting the commercial bank title while Medical Stores thumped their authority in the health institution category.
Zambia Revenue Authority emerged victors in the government department category while Hotel Intercontinental scooped the hospitality industry prize. Felistus Mphande won the individual 10 kilometres power race women category and walked away K4, 000 together with the men’s title winner Edward Mwanza.
