By ELIAS CHIPEPO –

THE Zambia Cricket Union (ZCU) has partnered with the Technical Education and Vocational Institutions Sports Association (TEVISA) to introduce the sport in tertiary institutions.
TEVISA president Fabian Zulu said his association was excited to partner with the ZCU to have the game of cricket being played in the higher institutions of learning and that fruits will soon start to bear results.
Zulu said this during an informal meeting held at Stay Easy Hotel in Lusaka between ZCU and TEVISA to charter the way forward on the introduction of cricket.
He said the Ministry of Education has tasked TEVISA to organise sports and reach out to all the 10 Provinces of Zambia.
ZCU president Reuben Chama gave a brief back ground on union’s core operations and the structure of the organisation.
Chama told the TEVISA entourage that cricket needs to be introduced as soon possible in tertiary institutions in a bid to help revamp the standards of the sport in the country.
“This will be another milestone in our bid to ensure that cricket is played at all levels following the successful launch of the sport in schools in most parts across the country. It is our hope that the project kicks off as soon as possible,” he said.
Chama said the ZCU was trying to consolidate the sport in the four provinces where cricket was recently launched before adding on two more provinces.
“As we speak, our development officers are currently in Kasama consolidating the programmes and by the end of the year we are looking at adding on two more provinces. But the important aspect to be mindful of is sustaining the human resource to carry out these programmes,” he said.
The ZCU has so far introduced cricket in Southern, Eastern, North-Western and Northern Provinces to add on Lusaka and Copperbelt with Western, Muchinga, Luapula and Central Provinces next on the agenda.
ZCU life member Haroon Ghumra said the partnership between ZCU and TEVISA was very important to the project off the ground.
Ghumra, who is also Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) board member, said there was need to tap in Colleges and Universities in as far as cricket development is concerned and urged TEVISA to identify institutions with facilities.
The meeting was attended by ZCU committee members Yandikani Ng’andu and Judith Mbulo, national cricket coordinator Teddy Bangafyalo, cricket coordinator Brian Yambayamba and senior development officer Peter Phiri.
Zulu was flanked by his general secretary Nicholas Miti and two committee members Brenda Mudenda and Lucy Chanda.