‘Sports welfare policy at advanced stage’
Director of sports in the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Jameson Ndalama says an incentives and welfare policy for sports persons is at an advanced stage and will be launched this year.
The director made the statement on Wednesday at the funeral of Malawi Queens’ legend Emma Mzagada in Chilomoni Township, Blantyre.
“It is unfortunate to lose this netball legend before we finalise the development of the incentives and welfare policy for sports persons, which will help to take good care of our athletes,” said Ndalama.
“As government, it pains to lose such important sports personalities. For your information, we are about to complete the developing of the welfare policy, which will be launched soon.”
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Khungekile Matiya said they are keeping their fingers crossed to see the policy coming to life to help their players, most of whom suffer financial struggles after retiring from active netball.
The late Mzagada, who is survived by two daughters, died on Monday at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre after a long illness.
The multi-award winning legend started playing netball in 1985 and had stints with City Queens, Produsack, Whitex, Silver Sisters, PostNets and MTL Queens (now Thunder Queens) until she retired in 2009. The 50-year-old played for the Malawi Queens between 1995 and 2009.
The current Malawi Queens’ squad, NAM officials and government officials paid their last respects to the fallen legend during her ceremony.
