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ZAMBIA WINS THREE MEDALS AT AFRICAN MILITARY BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP IN MOROCCO

A team of six military boxers from the Zambia Defence Force has minted three medals at the just ended African Military Boxing Championship in Morocco.

Two silver and a bronze medal are what Team Zambia are bringing back home from North Africa.

Staff Sergeant Patrick Chinyemba of the Zambia National Service won silver this morning after losing to Moroccan boxer Chadghour Othman.

This was in a final of the flyweight category.

SSgt Chinyemba is the reigning IBA African Flyweight Champion.

And Private Albert Ngulube of the Zambia Army has settled for a bronze medal after losing in the bantamweight category.

Pte Ngulube lost to Essamai Reda of Morocco.

On Thursday, Private Nene Mahonga of the Zambia Army won silver after losing to Bensayar Issam of Morocco in the final of the light flyweight category.

This is after Pte Mahonga eliminated boxers from Mozambique and Tanzania in the qualifying stages of the tournament.

Zambia sent six boxers from the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force and Zambia National Service to the tournament.

A group of boxing coaches from the three services under the Ministry of Defence was hard at work to make sure the country mints medals at the continental showpiece for military personnel.

Issued by:

Paul Shalala
Principal Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Defence

Government Decides on Lungu’s Remains — National Mourning Cancelled

President Hakainde Hichilema has cancelled the national mourning following the halt in the repatriation of the remains of the late former President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu by his family.

Speaking this evening while addressing the nation, President Hichilema said the government is however open to any engagement with the Lungu family.

Yesterday, the nation was ready to receive the late president’s remains following the government’s engagement with the family.

“Our country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning.”

“We have done everything possible to engage the family of our departed 6th Republican President, and we have reached a point where a clear decision has to be made.”

“Given these circumstances, I therefore wish to inform the nation, that as of the end of today the 19th of June 2025, this particular national mourning period is officially over,” declared Hichilema.

He added that things must return to normal and progress steadily.

He also apologised to the South African government for the inconvenience this caused yesterday.

“At our request, the South African Government prepared extensively, with military honours, mounted by the South African Defence Force, who did so in vain, as the former President’s body was not availed by the family for repatriation.”

“For this unfortunate situation, we extend our sincere apologies to President Ramaphosa, the Government, and the people of South Africa,” he said.

Dr. Edgar Lungu, who died on 5th June 2025, was initially accorded a 7-day national mourning period, which was later extended by nine days after the government resolved the negotiations concerning the repatriation of his remains

President Hichilema further urged the public to remain calm during this period, warning that lawlessness will not be tolerated.

The end

𝐙𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐎𝐗𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 & 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐎𝐗𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏

17 June 2025

Zambian military boxer Private Nene Maonga has secured a slot in the next stage of the ongoing African Military Boxing Championship being hosted in Morocco.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence Principal Public Relations Officer, Paul Shalala, Maonga eliminated Yussuf Yassine of Mozambique through a unanimous points decision in the 46-49kg category bout.

Meanwhile, another Zambian boxer, Corporal Ben Banda, has been eliminated from the tournament following his loss to Fadel Zouhir of Morocco in a 60kg category bout.

Additionally, Corporal Samson Phiri lost to Gbadamsi Quadri of Nigeria in a separate bout.
Mr. Shalala also named the three Zambian boxers yet to fight at the tournament: Staff Sergeant Patrick Chinyemba, Private Albert Ngulube, and Leading Aircraftman Emmanuel Ngoma.

“Zambia has sent six boxers to the African Military Boxing Championship to compete in various categories,” he said.

He added that the boxers comprise two each from the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, and Zambia National Service. The Zambian delegation is led by Lieutenant Colonel Noel Mumbi and is being managed by Lieutenant Catherine Phiri.

The tournament reaches its climax on Friday, when the best military boxers in Africa will be crowned.