Bay FC and Copper Queens striker Racheal Kundananji has joined Muzala Samukonga, the 2024 Paris Olympic 400-meter bronze medallist, in demanding unpaid allowances from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and the Arts.
The two athletes have stated that the Ministry has yet to pay them their allowances for the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite claims that all outstanding allowances had been settled and only winning bonuses were pending.
On August 23, 2024, Minister of Youth, Sport, and Arts Elvis Nkandu told ZNBC that his ministry had paid all of the athletes’ local camping allowances, and that the only amounts owed were for the time they spent in France and Samukonga’s winning bonus.
Samukonga, who became the first Zambian athlete to win a medal at the Olympics after 28 years, refuted the minister’s claims and went as far as not using the Zambian flag at the Diamond League in protest.
“First and foremost, it has come to my attention and many other sports individual that the Ministry of Sports recently announced that all sports men and women have received their allowances and the only dues that are pending are for the winning bonuses,this was also addressed by some social media influencers .I must clarify that, contrary to this statement,we have not received any such payment.”
To support Samukonga, Kundananji also wrote on her official Facebook page confirming that she has not received any payment from the ministry.
“As Muzala Samukonga rightly pointed out, the Ministry of Sports recently announced that all sportsmen and women have received their allowances, with only the winning bonuses still pending. This announcement has also been echoed by some self proclaimed social media influencers and bloggers,” Kundananji wrote. “However, contrary to these claims, I must clarify that, like many of my fellow athletes, I have not received any such payment from the Ministry of Sports to be specific as they said that they’ve paid us. This situation is deeply concerning, as these allowances are vital for covering most of these sportsmen and women’s training expenses, transport costs, and day-to-day living expenses.”
Copper Queens not paid for WAFCON qualifiers and Olympics- Kundananji
Kundananji also revealed that the Copper Queens have not been paid their winning bonuses for the games against Angola, Ghana and Morocco.
“The statement from the Ministry of Sports is, therefore, misleading the general public and giving them false information. As athletes we are rightfully claiming that which is ours, NO allowances have been paid to the athletes who participated in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as claimed on August 23, 2024.
She continued: “Suppose the Ministry maintains that payments have been made. In that case, if dues were compensated in our accounts,we won’t have time to come on social media and talk about this but since the Ministry is giving the general public false news, we are left with no option but to clarify the issue, going forward the habit of making statements to the general public from the Ministry of sports that they give athletes winning bonuses amounting from $2500-$5000 winning bonuses should come to an end, as it has never happened.
“Families together with friends think that we do pocket the money to ourselves, the Ministry should be taking action and not only saying things. We have been listening to the same stories for a long time and it all ends in promises without action. Are we going to be feeding our families the promises from the ministry? The Women’s National team players haven’t been paid from the Angola,Ghana, Morocco and Olympics competitions respectively.
“If the people in the offices are not getting paid, to be specific everyone under the Ministry of Sports, will they continue to work? The ministry of Sports is there because of us sports Men and Women which means they have to meet our needs and give us what is rightfully ours and we will also do our job,“ charged Kundananji.
Following the two athletes’ calls, the ministry has yet to respond.
