The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has directed all its provincial offices to hold commemorative activities on 28 April 2026 in honour of the victims of the 1993 Gabon Air Disaster.
FAZ says the nationwide observance follows a directive from president Keith Mweemba, issued during the Eastern Province Annual General Meeting last week, aimed at ensuring a unified and dignified remembrance across the country.
The tragedy, which claimed the lives of Zambia’s national team players and officials, remains one of the darkest moments in the nation’s football history.
In a statement released on Saturday, FAZ described the disaster as “one of the most painful chapters in our Zambian football history,” stressing that the players and officials who died had done so in service to the nation.
“Their sacrifice must remain firmly etched in our collective memory,” the statement read.
Provincial offices have been encouraged to organise simple but meaningful activities to allow communities across Zambia to take part in the remembrance.
Suggested events include moments of silence in schools, markets, workplaces and public spaces, candle-lighting vigils at churches and other central locations, interfaith prayer services, and community clean-up initiatives in honour of the fallen heroes.
FAZ has also encouraged radio stations and media houses to air tribute messages and reflections throughout the day.
The association further appealed to families of the victims to remain united in preserving the legacy of their loved ones, describing their sacrifice as a shared source of national pride.
Attention was also drawn to the state of the Heroes Acre at Independence Stadium, where FAZ called on the corporate sector to help restore and elevate the memorial site to reflect the stature of the fallen heroes.
“It is not enough to honour them in words while their resting place falls short of the reverence they deserve,” FAZ said.
The association also urged the National Museums Board to prioritise preservation efforts and push forward long-standing plans for a fitting memorial and museum.
“As a football family and as a nation, we owe it to these heroes to remember them with purpose, consistency and honour,” the statement concluded.
