NSCZ and Trade Kings Group stake K30 million for Zambia International Rally
 
By Ignatius Mazeko
 
NATIONAL Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) and Trade Kings Group of companies have staked K30 million for this season’s Zambia International Rally that revs off on July 16 at InterContinental Hotel in Lusaka.
 
And two more local drivers, Mohammed Essa and Paul Monge have officially entered the 476-kilometre long rally bringing the number of locals to four after earlier entries from Muna Singh and his son Jassy.
 
Last week, the organising committee received two foreign entries from reigning African champion, Jamie Whyte of Zimbabwe and Giancarlo Davite of Rwanda.
 
Zollyhood, an advertising firm, has also joined the long list of sponsors after pledging to cover the event and produce a video documentary and picture exhibition at a cost of K40 million.  
 
The rally is the penultimate round of this year’s six-event FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) series that is being led Whyte.
 
Zambia Motor Sport Association (ZMSA) vice-president Sam Ching’ambu said at a press briefing this morning at InterContinental Hotel that NSCZ has pumped in K10 million while Trade Kings Group of companies has staked K20 million.
 
Ching’ambu said the K10 million from SCZ would be used to secure a global positioning system (GPS) tracking unit from the United Kingdom that is used to improve and safeguard the lives of competing rally crews and officials.
 
He said apart from their sponsorship to the Zambia International Rally, Trade Kings Group of companies has promised to partner with the ZMSA in future events.
 
Zollywood would further host a motorsport picture exhibition either in December or January where they hope to raise US$10, 000 (about K50 million), which would be donated to the ZMSA to buy rally clocks and other materials.
 
Organising committee member in charge of finance, Dyson Mweene said at the same function that his team had so far raised K340 million both in cash and material.
 
Clerk of course Guru Singh said he was delighted to work with a vibrant organizing committee and was confident that the team would stage a very successful championship. ©ZMSA