Thu, 15 Feb 2018 11:17:23 +0000
MARTIN MUSUNKA
FIRST Quantum Minerals’ Kansanshi Mining Plc has contributed K250, 000 to become the Platinum sponsor of the first-ever international boxing tournament scheduled for Solwezi stadium on April 28.
Kansanshi Mining Plc public relations manager, Godfrey Msiska said yesterday that the international tournament being organised with Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion (OQBP) deserved total support from all stakeholders as it anchored on the key theme of fighting early marriages.
He said Kansanshi Mining Plc felt obliged to be part of the international tournament as a Platinum sponsor because the company was focused on raising awareness on the negative effects of early marriages, gender-based violence (GBV) and child labour, among many vices.
He said the mining company regarded all activities that were designed to develop strategies to combat the harmful impact of child marriage as absolutely important and would get involved because of the importance attached to programmes of keeping the girl-child in school.
Msiska said FQM was resolved to ensure that the girl-child progressed in school and the international boxing tournament to be graced by Zambia’s world-acclaimed female boxer, Cathrine Phiri was ideal to raise awareness among the youth and parents on the negative effects of child marriages.
“On behalf of FQM Kansanshi Mine, I wish to announce that we have accepted to be platinum sponsors of this important international boxing tournament and I hereby announce that we will contribute K250,000 towards the budget to stage the event,” he said.
Msiska said the K250,000 would help OQBP in meeting the K450,000 budget as they pursue other stakeholders in taking up silver and bronze sponsorships, among other categories.
He added that, getting Phiri as the role model was an effective way of getting the message over to the youth as she has been a mentor at FQM’s events where she has outlined the need to be disciplined.
North Western Province minister, Richard Kapita thanked FQM being continuing to be a partner in development and their contribution of K250,000 was highly appreciated and pledged the provincial administration’s commitment to find other sponsors to make the tournament a success.
“We shall support the event as it is a noble cause. If it means going out to the Copperbelt and beyond to get sponsorship, we shall do just that because we need to eradicate early marriages and other related vices that hinder the girl-child to make meaningful progress in pursuit of educational careers,” Kapita said.
OQBP promoter and manager, Christopher Malunga appealed to the minister to help drive the agenda as the tournament was a sensitive occasion that affected society.
He said, because of the commitment shown by FQM, OQBP would continue working with the mining company and the North Western provincial administration and announced that the event would be transformed into an annual gathering.
Phiri said she was excited to be part of the tournament that was designed to fight child marriages and appealed to girls to aspire for better things in life by rejecting proposals for early marriage.
“I would like to appeal to the girls to continue with school and be able to make informed decisions than being rushed into early marriages. The girls need to be determined to ensure that they progress in their education and be able to depend on themselves,” she counselled.
