Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia
Africa's supreme sports body has said it would not impose sanctions on Zambia for withdrawing from hosting the 2011 All-Africa Games. The Supreme Council for Sports in Africa said Zambia would escape sanctions because its constitution had no provision for defaulting or non-complying members.
The quadrennial games will be shifted to Mozambique after Zambia pull-out citing financial hitches. The SCSA made the decision on Friday at its extraordinary session last Friday held in Cameroun.
The executive committee has since mandated the SCSA secretary general to engage in negotiations with Zambia on the issue of compensation for costs incurred following the country's default.
Zambian’s Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu and the ministry's chief planner Henry Kapacha represented the southern African country at the extra ordinary session.
According to media reports, the Zambian minister gave a report stating the reasons for the country's withdrawal from hosting the 10th AAG last November.
Zambia cited the global financial crisis, falling price of copper, which is the main contributor to the country's gross domestic product, the dying of former president Levy Mwanawasa and the rising food prices, which had a negative impact on the economy.
