Zambia has NO certified running tracks

By Chansa Kunda

Zambia currently has NO certified running tracks and electronic timing equipment needed to qualify athletes for global events.

This means that for the country to qualify athletes locally, the running tracks at the Levy Mwanawasa and National Heroes stadia should be upgraded and the electronic timing system purchased according to the latest standards set by the World Athletics.

This came to light after TimeTronics, a firm hired by World Athletics to supply equipment visited Zambia and other Southern African countries it services, to enlighten them on the changes in rules made by the global governing body.

Firm Managing Director KIM PEETERS says the new changes made will require Zambia to have certified tracks and equipment if they are to actualise the dream of qualifying a larger contingent of athletes for the 2028 Olympic Games.

PEETERS says half a million United States Dollars is needed for Zambia to purchase the latest training equipment.

And Zambia Athletics President ELIAS MPONDELA has disclosed that all the time Zambia qualified athletics locally, they borrowed equipment from a neighbouring country.

MPONDELA says the Association has since tabled the matter with the National Sports Council of Zambia and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Art on how they will help improve the current status of infrastructure in the country.