Sports Minister Elvis Nkandu refuse to comment on Mwepu’s private life

MINISTER of Sports Youth and Arts Elvis Nkandu says Government will not get involved in Enock Mwepu’s private life after the former Chipolopolo captain is said to have received healing for his hereditary heart condition which forced him into early retirement.

Mwepu, who featured for EPL outfit Brighton and Hove Albion before he was forced into early retirement for medical reasons believes he has been healed by South-African Pastor John Anosike of Word Faith in Cape Town.

In a recent interview with the Church, Mwepu disclosed that his heart problem began in October last year when he was travelling for an international game and a friend gave him a sweet which made him to collapse.

Nkandu said government would not comment or involve itself on Mwepu’s case for fear of being misunderstood by the public.

Nkandu said the government can only come in when the player himself seeks an audience with his ministry which is in charge of Sports Youths and Arts.

“I have not talked to him, but I think that is something the government should not get into. We don’t want to be misinterpreted. That is his personal life and I think we can only come in when we feel everything has been exhausted so for now we may not comment on anything because we are not even sure of what is happening,” Nkandu said.

“That is a personal issue and we believe he will be able to navigate through it. When he feels like coming to us he will come to us but as Government we cannot comment on that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nkandu reafirmed the government’s commitment to revamp Independence Stadium in Lusaka after Green Buffaloes failed to do so according to the MOU signed between the two parties for the renovation of the historical stadium.

“Revamping of Independence Stadium, yes we have an MOU with Green Buffaloes that they should help us rehabilitate the infrastructure but I must say that they have not done according to what we had agreed so we are looking at that also as government after all it is just very near to Heroes Stadium,” Nkandu said.

“As we rehabilitate Heroes Stadium we cannot leave Independence Stadium just like that so we also have some plans to make sure that something is done,” he said.

He said government was also determined to build malty sports infrastructures in all provinces.