After a successful career as a Paralympic wheelchair athlete, who competed at both the Sydney and Atlanta Paralympic Games, Lango Sinkamba is now at the forefront of the Paralympic Movement in Zambia. As the president of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) in Zambia, Mr. Sinkamba has been working hard to make sure his athletes have the best possible chance to reach their potential by competing at an elite level. Mr. Sinkamba has been president of the NPC since it replaced the Zambia Sports Federation of the Disabled in 2005. Since then he has focused on developing and building the NPC’s capacities, as well as establishing relationships with organizations interested in promoting sport for persons with a disability.

Mr. Sinkamba, who lost the full use of his legs after contracting polio as a child, had his first taste of Paralympic Sport at secondary school, where he played Table Tennis and organized wheelchair races. The 39 year old said that Paralympic Sport has had an extremely positive impact on his life as it has helped him develop more self confidence, leadership skills and independence.

Mr. Sinkamba spoke to the Paralympian about the work of the NPC in Zambia, the challenges it faces and goals he has for the future.

Who are your main target groups and how do you reach them?

Our target groups are all persons with a disability. We are mandated by the Government for administration purposes, budgeting and monitoring by the Department of Sport and National Sports Council. We reach our target group directly in the communities in which they live, by offering them training and encouraging them to form clubs. We also work with schools for persons with a disability and mainstream schools, as well as sport organizations, such as Sport in Action, SCORE and Right to Play.

How has the media and public in Zambia responded to Paralympic Sport?

The media has been very supportive, and it’s very exciting to note that a lot of people have developed an interest in Paralympic sport. The scale of the phenomenon that Paralympic Sport has become is illustrated by the fact that Wheelchair Basketball exists for persons with and without a disability at the Disacare Wheelchair Centre in Zambia. What were you doing before you became President of the NPC? I was running and am still running my small business centre, which deals with computer repairs, software and office supplies. I am a multi_sector professional with knowledge in accounts and finance, strategic planning, influence and advocacy. At the moment, I am vesting more efforts in promoting Paralympic Sport through consultancy and research on disability, development and advocacy. I am also an Athlete Ambassador for the organization Right to Play.

Why is it so important to get people involved in Paralympic Sport and spread the messages of the Paralympic Movement?

Sport makes us physically fit, it also builds confidence, reduces stigma surrounding persons with a disability and enables Paralympic athletes to be recognized all over the world.

What are the biggest challenges faced by your NPC?

The biggest challenges faced by the NPC are making sure we have continued access to trained and qualified coaches, classifiers, the correct sports equipment and an adequate amount of transportation. We are also looking for partners to finance our five_year Strategic Plan of Action, which was established through our involvement with the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Organizational Development Initiative (ODI). Another challenge we face is to make sure all administration staff and NPC members receive training in sports administration, marketing and fundraising. We would also like to expand the office space available at the NPC.

What are your goals for the future?

As president of the NPC, I would like to build and maintain the excellent relationship we have established with the government through our links with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development. The Ministry provided the NPC’s offices and has financed the Committee since the time of inception. I would also like the NPC to accelerate the development of Paralympic Sport in Zambia by building more partnerships with other organizations. We will also continue to make sure that persons with a disability get involved in advocacy work, so they can influence issues. By the end of 2008, we aim to have trained five or more coaches and classifiers. My biggest personal goal is to go to university and study sports administration and leadership.

Is the NPC involved in any educational programmes?

The NPC has participated in sports activities organized by the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association and events aimed at raising awareness about lots of different issues, such as World Youth Day, International Women’s Day, International Aids Day, Independence Day and the International Day of Persons with a Disabilities.

What are the biggest challenges facing people with a disability in Zambia?

The transport system in Zambia, especially public transport, does not take into consideration the needs of persons with a disability because of the way it is designed. Sometimes you have to pay double and you often have to use a taxi, which most people cannot afford. All sports equipment has to be imported, making it very expensive to acquire and impossible for most clubs to afford. More sponsorship is needed from corporate institutions. There is also still a stigma among people towards persons with a disability in Zambia.