SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS GRANTS TO REDUCE – PS
Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe says the K550,000 grant to each association may drastically reduce following a directive by Government to realign the 2024 budget.
In an interview on Tuesday, Chileshe said grants will be affected as the ministry has to adhere to hostility measures that have been put in place.
Last Thursday, President Hakainde Hichilema declared the 2023/24 farming season a national disaster due to a dry spell.
Chileshe said the ministry will scrutinise all functions and international outings.
“As you are aware, the President declared this year’s farming season a national disaster due to the drought. We have been directed, instructed to ensure we adhere to hostility measures put in place in every ministry.
“The budget for 2024 will be affected, meaning everything is affected. We have to scrutinise events and only look into the priority areas,” he said.
“However, this Government do support sport, arts and recreation as not just entertainment but as part of job creation. The grant to associations was K550,000 each on average but that may equally reduce. We don’t have to kill the sector but we need to make adjustments.”