Cholera outbreak: Zambia to cancel athletics event

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday January 23, 2018 17:00

 

Botswana was due to send a team to compete at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Southern Region track and field series on February 24, 2018 in Lusaka.

ZAAA announced this week that the series has been cancelled due to the cholera outbreak.

According to a statement written by ZAAA secretary general, Davison Mung’ambata, the Heroes Stadium that was supposed to host the event is being used as a centre to treat cholera victims.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) spokesperson, Ipolokeng Ramatshaba told Mmegi Sport that they welcome the decision to postpone the track and field event.  He said it was risky to send a team when there is a cholera outbreak.

Meanwhile, CAA Southern Region chairperson, Moses Bantsi said the development would force them to look for an alternative host.

“We are going to check individual countries’ calendars and see if they could not combine their event with the CAA series by inviting athletes from other countries,” he said.

Bantsi said CAA intends to host the series after the disease has been contained.