OFFICIAL OPENING REMARKS BY THE GENERAL SECRETARY AT THE 2023 ZUFIAW ANNUAL SPORTS FESTIVAL, HELD AT LUSAKA’S OLYMPIC YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE OYDC. THE GUEST OF HONOUR, REPRESENTING THE HON. MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT & ART, THE ZUFIAW VICE PRESIDENT MR. CHARLES MUKUKA REPRESENTING THE UNION PRESIDENT NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS INVITED INSTITUTIONAL HEADS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT STAFF MEMBERS OF THE PRESS INVITED GUESTS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL THE INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE DECIDED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR’S ZUFIAW SPORTS FESTIVAL. YOUR PARTICIPATION GOES TO SHOW YOUR HOW MUCH YOU VALUE AND APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRODUCTIVITY AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKERS. I AM PLEASED TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS 9TH EDITION OF THE ZUFIAW SPORTS FESTIVAL, BECAUSE THIS EVENT SOLIDIFIES OUR MESSAGE TO MANAGEMENT TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL FITNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A WORK- LIFE BALANCE FOR EMPLOYEES. TODAY, WE GATHER HERE FOR THIS EVENT IN ORDER TO CELEBRATE NOT ONLY A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE BUT ALSO THE POWER OF UNITY IN OUR SHARED PASSION FOR PRODUCTIVITY ON OUR WORK PLACE. THIS YEAR WE ARE HOLDING THIS EVENT UNDER THE THEME: “EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OF A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE.” GUEST OF HONOUR MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS YEAR’S THEME IS AS FOLLOWS- 1. EMBRACING DIVERSITY: THIS ENTAILS GETTING TO KNOW AND APPRECIATE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, CULTURES, ETHNIC GROUPS, SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUPS, AGE, ETC. IT CALLS FOR UNITY IN OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE COMMON AGENDA. 2. INCLUSION: THIS CALLS FOR GOING BEYOND ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND INVOLVING DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN DECISION MAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES. 3. HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE: THIS REFERS TO A WORKFORCE THAT IS DILIGENT AND HEALTHY ENOUGH TO PRODUCE RESULTS IN THE WORKPLACE, GIVEN THAT THEY ARE PROVIDED WITH A CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT TO DO SO. GUEST OF HONOUR, ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSITY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ANY THRIVING ECONOMY AND AS A UNION WE STRONGLY AFFIRM THAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO EMBRACE THIS IN ORDER TO THRIVE. ZUFIAW COMPRISES OF INDIVIDUAL WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, TALENTS, AND ABILITIES, AND IT IS THIS DIVERSITY THAT EMPOWERS US TO CREATE A STRONGER AND MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY. IN THE REALM OF SPORTS, DIVERSITY TAKES ON A NEW DIMENSION, DEMONSTRATING THAT REGARDLESS OF TRIBE, GENDER, AGE, OR RELIGION, WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS ONE TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS. DURING PREVIOUS SPORTS FESTIVALS, WE HAVE ALWAYS EMPHASIZED THAT THIS EVENT WAS NOT JUST ABOUT COMPETITION OR VICTORY, BUT RATHER AN AVENUE THAT PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN FOSTERING TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE, AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS. OUR SPORTS FESTIVAL SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE CORE VALUES OF THE UNION WHICH ARE: a. INTEGRITY b. ACCOUNTABILITY c. HARD WORK d. SOLIDARITY THROUGH THESE VALUES, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN TRANSCEND COMMON BARRIERS AND BUILD BRIDGES THAT CONNECT US ALL, CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME AND VALUED. BY WORKING TOWARDS EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, WE MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, UNLOCKING THEIR UNIQUE TALENTS AND EMPOWERING THEM TO EXCEL BOTH WITHIN THE UNION AND THE WORKPLACE AS WELL. GUEST OF HONOUR, IT IS OUR FIRM BELIEF THAT EVENTS SUCH AS THESE TRANSCEND TO THE WORKPLACE AND PROMOTE INCLUSIVENESS, WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN FLOURISH AND SEE THEIR DIFFERENCES ENRICHING THE OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY FOR ALL. A DIVERSE AND PRODUCTIVE MIND DOES INDEED PROMOTE INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY, LEADING TO MORE EFFECTIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING LEADS TO THE GENERATION OF FRESH IDEAS IN THE WORK PLACE. IN CONCLUSION, MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU AND YOUR MINISTRY FOR BEING A PART OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT EVENT. MAY I ALSO IN THE SAME BREATH REMIND EVERYONE OF US HERE TODAY TO REMEMBER THAT A TRULY GREAT SOCIETY IS ONE THAT EMBRACES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, EVEN IN THE REALM OF SPORTS. BY RECOGNIZING THE VALUE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL BRINGS TO THE TABLE, WE CREATE A WORKFORCE THAT IS NOT ONLY HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE BUT ALSO BRIMMING WITH TALENT AND INNOVATION. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AS YOU REPRESENT YOUR INSTITUTIONS IN THIS YEAR’S ZUFIAW SPORTS FESTIVAL. MAY I NOW CALL UPON THE UNION PRESIDENT TO GIVE HIS OPENING REMARKS. THANK YOU. KASAPO SUNDREA KABENDE GENERAL SECRETARY & CEO
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