Samukonga Demands Allowances as Olympians Are Left Empty-Handed

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Zambian athletes who represented the country at the Paris 2024 Olympics have returned home without receiving the promised financial support, including daily allowances and substantial winning bonuses.

Muzala Samukonga, a leading member of the Olympic team and celebrated for securing Zambia’s first medal in 28 years, has publicly accused the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Arts of failing to uphold its financial commitments. According to Samukonga, the athletes were promised daily payments throughout the games, but none of these payments have been made.

“Despite assurances that daily payments would be made throughout the games, my fellow athletes have returned home without receiving any of the agreed-upon allowances,” Samukonga wrote on his Facebook page. “This situation has caused significant distress and disappointment among us athletes, who have already sacrificed so much to represent our country with pride at the global stage.”

The promised allowances and bonuses were intended to support athletes during the intense competition and provide financial relief upon their return. Samukonga criticized the lack of follow-through on these promises, stating that it undermines athlete morale and damages the reputation of the sports administration.

He has called on Minister of Youth, Sport, and Arts Elvis Nkandu and Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe to take immediate and decisive action to rectify the situation. “It is imperative that the promised allowances are disbursed without further delay. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we athletes feel valued and supported,” Samukonga emphasized.

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