By FELIX MALUNGA –
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has come to the aid of 20 former Zambia soccer stars through economic empowerment.
The beneficiaries of the Presidential Empowerment Initiative include the 1974 and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) silver medallists, who were each given an MTN electronic vending machine with K1,000 start-up capital following a request from the KK 11 Soccer Trust.
Former national team coach, Fred Mwila leads an array of ex-Zambia soccer stars, who include Dickson Makwaza with his son, Linos, the Malitoli brothers of Mordon and Kenneth, Peter Kaumba, Jericho Shinde, Frederick Kashimoto, Simon Kaushi and Johnson Katowando.
Others are Elijah Litana, Joel Bwalya, Ackim Musenge, James Chitalu, Douglas Mwamba, Philimon Chisala, Vesper Janza, Kingsley Musabula, Rotson Kilambe and Australia Mweemba.
Presidential Empowerment Initiative chief executive officer, Joseph Chilinda said President Lungu was delighted to come to the aid in a sustainable way to former national team stars that have fallen on hard times.
Chilinda said the empowerment initiative would continue to explore other means to better the living standards of former soccer stars.
KK 11 Soccer Trust general secretary, Australia Mweemba said the aim of the organisation was to help uplift the living standards of former soccer players.
Mweemba said it was saddening that most of the footballers who starred for Zambia in the past had become destitute.
When handing over the vending machines to Kaumba and Kenneth Malitoli in Kitwe,  Presidential Empowerment Initiative representative, Musyani Siame said the scheme decided to help sustain the living standards of former footballers.
Kaumba paid tribute to President Lungu for the initiative, saying the support rendered would greatly help them.
Malitoli said it was imperative for the former footballers to use the vending machines for their intended purposes since the empowerment initiative was a revolving fund.