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Zambia president refuses to pay for African Nations Cup rights
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has defended his refusal to pay for the rights to show the ongoing African Nations Cup, saying he could not justify the expense while trying to help flood victims.
The state-run Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) had hoped that Mwanawasa would help bail them out for the television rights given the huge interest over the appearance of the Copper Bullets at the tournament in Ghana.
But in comments carried on Monday by The Times of Zambia, a government mouthpiece, Mwanawasa said he had to get his priorities right with some 1.5 million Zambians in need of humanitarian aid following widespread flooding.
"I have got the concern, but as president, where do I place my priorities? On entertainment or where people are suffering from floods?" Mwanawasa said.
"You can imagine what you can do with 5 billion kwacha (1.2 million dollars), given this needy situation. Misplacing that priority would be like buying beer when people are suffering," the president was quoted as saying.
Football is by far the most popular sport in Zambia and there has been anger among fans at the failure of the cash-strapped ZNBC to screen the games which can only be seen by satellite viewers.
Zambia were crushed 5-1 by Samuel Eto'o's Cameroon on Saturday night but can still qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat holders Egypt on Wednesday.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has defended his refusal to pay for the rights to show the ongoing African Nations Cup, saying he could not justify the expense while trying to help flood victims.
The state-run Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) had hoped that Mwanawasa would help bail them out for the television rights given the huge interest over the appearance of the Copper Bullets at the tournament in Ghana.
But in comments carried on Monday by The Times of Zambia, a government mouthpiece, Mwanawasa said he had to get his priorities right with some 1.5 million Zambians in need of humanitarian aid following widespread flooding.
"I have got the concern, but as president, where do I place my priorities? On entertainment or where people are suffering from floods?" Mwanawasa said.
"You can imagine what you can do with 5 billion kwacha (1.2 million dollars), given this needy situation. Misplacing that priority would be like buying beer when people are suffering," the president was quoted as saying.
Football is by far the most popular sport in Zambia and there has been anger among fans at the failure of the cash-strapped ZNBC to screen the games which can only be seen by satellite viewers.
Zambia were crushed 5-1 by Samuel Eto'o's Cameroon on Saturday night but can still qualify for the quarter-finals if they beat holders Egypt on Wednesday.