Managing sport in the post-privatisation era in Zambia : an assessment of sporting behaviour and facilities provision in Kalulushi

Zambia, though famous for its copper production, has suffered a socio-economic distortion after privatisation of the Copper Mines from State-Parastatal (ZCCM) to private operation. The heaviest of this impact has been felt in municipal service delivery, particularly in towns on the Copperbelt Province, where services previously rendered by ZCCM including sport and recreation, have deteriorated both in quantity and quality. As noted by several scholars, even in places previously with the best sport facilities have either been abandoned or are in state of neglect. Though sport has been seen worldwide to generate both economic and social benefits, the biggest challenges though for policy making has been to determine the range of sports services and to establish whose responsibility it is to provide, avail and make accessible the range of services in question. Kalulushi has been no exception to this trend, a situation which prompted the undertaking of this exploratory case study research. The objective of the study was to explore strategies to improve management of sport in the post-privatisation era, through an assessment of the sporting behaviour and levels of facilities provision in the central area of Kalulushi. Based on two important theories and with heavy reliance on documented concepts, common measuring criteria and knowledge in sport, the author proceeded to execute the case study research. Supplemented by observations and digital pictures, closed and open-ended questionnaires were administered to residents and school respondents to assess the current sporting behaviours and sports needs. A similar set of questionnaires were administered to Local authorities, government authorities, private sports providers, former ZCCM employees and current major mining companies to assess the levels of facilities provision and to allow for a comparison in sports activities and facilities currently and before privatisation. The field data and major findings were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively aided by statistical software SPSS Version 17.0 from which the researcher has made conclusions. The research primarily established that, though the existence of infrastructure and its state has a theoretical influence on sporting behaviour, the observed poor state and distribution of sports infrastructure in the study area, did not completely hinder residents from engaging in sports activities, as evidenced by 72 % general sport participation and higher participation levels from residents with limited facilities. Most interesting still, the research identified a unique relationship between sporting behaviour and facilities provision, which relationship appeared to be more sensitive to quality as opposed to mere existence of sports facilities. This was evidenced by desertion or non utilization of run down facilities in preference or improvised facilities at home or in other public places, which observation not only fitted in the adopted model, but also paralleled existing literature which links increased participation and evoked sporting behaviour with improved quality of sports facilities. However the research further established and concluded that in fact this 72 % sport participation reflects a drop in participation compared to the time of ZCCM, attributing it to de-motivation factors including loss of interest and poor infrastructure of most designated sports areas. The findings further reveal that people have adapted by creating alternative means either by improvising facilities in public open spaces or squeezing into school infrastructure. The research identifies friendship and family influence as the major source of sporting behaviour complimented by the desire for physical fitness and social interaction. The research found out that people undertake diverse sporting activities, but noted high participation in open-door sporting activities with, Football, Netball, Basketball, Volleyball and Athletics being the most popular and participated in sports across all age groups, in schools and generally within the residents. Sport participation was generally more among respondents in schools than those outside school, further confirming the special influence schools have on society's sporting behaviour and presumable also because of the mandatory nature of sport in Zambian schools. Interestingly, the research further identified a sensitive gender relationship in participation, with males being more probable to participate than females. Generally therefore, the research concludes and confirms that sports activities and facilities were better managed in ZCCM period compared to the current situation, which assertion is justified from both pictures of remnant infrastructure and the testified declined in sport participation and sport diversity. And where as ZCCM administered a diverse range of sporting activities, and promoted sporting through regular sports festivals and sponsorship, the current research concludes that implementation of such approaches have been minimal or never attempted in the current regime except in schools where regular sports competition among schools are held. This has been accentuated by absence of sports policy, (reflected in low prioritization and non committal of adequate resources by both the private and public). This has made it difficult to identify and properly plan for the sports needs, or realize possibility of tapping the available private sector's (mining companies) contribution to the district recreation service provision. Though participation levels are relatively still high, the current deplorable state of infrastructure poses a limitation both in the sport diversity and sporting places. It is thus feared that if not abated, community motivation in sport will decline putting the district at a risky of breeding a physically inactive and poorly integrated society. Arising from these findings and conclusions, the author recommends an immediate formulation of a sport and recreation policy within the existing the framework of the existing District Strategic Plan, to guide the planning and implementation of sports related activities, which include; rehabilitation of all dilapidated infrastructure, community sensitisation on the importance of sport and information dissemination on available sports and facilities. The author also recommends recruitment of qualified personnel to oversee sporting activity and superintend over maintenance of facilities and to also curb the deduced vandalism of sports facilities. Finally tax incentives should be introduced to effectively tap the private companies' corporate social responsibilities and contribution to the district recreation service provision. The author recommends among others, further research in gender perceptions of sport participation among adults population and exploration in low cost designs for multi-facility sports arenas. Keywords: Sports, participation, facilities management, post-privatisation, Kalulushi