Chess Federation of Zambia (CFZ) president Mukubulo Chilufya says the future of the sport is bright in the country.
According to Chilufya, Zambia is a powerhouse in the Southern African region and believes the country will have many grand masters in the near future.
Speaking in an interview, Chilufya said chess is showing positive prospects in the country, adding that the sport is surely graduating to acceptable standards.
“The future of chess is very bright in the country. I can assure you… just to pick on the few activities that have been happening in the recent past, of the six slots that have been allocated to Africa in the World Amateur, Zambia scooped four  titles when we participated at the tournament in Naibia. As we are speaking here, we are preparing our players to travel to Mexico to participate at the World Amateur. I can assure you that the future of chess is very promising and I can guarantee you that we are going to have a grand master in the few coming years,” he said.

Since his election as CFZ president, Chilufya’s leadership has been appreciated by the chess fraternity in Zambia as evidenced by the number of both local and international tournaments which have seen Zambian players emerging victorious.
The Chilufya-led association has since sent the chess team to the Olympiads, well dressed with allowances.
In addition to that, the federation managed to send the team to the Zone 4.3 and participated in various local and international outings.

“When you are destined to rule, when you are destined for leadership, you can’t escape it and thank God that it came my way and together with the team of my colleagues, we are ensuring that we change things how chess is run in the country. Since we came in a year now, it is evident that we are changing chess. We have not only boosted the morale, we have rejuvenated the game and most of the people have come back to chess, not only the players but also the corporate world,” he said, “We are taking chess to various parts of the country. We have been to Solwezi, , Kasama, Mongu, Kabwe , Choma  and we are about to go to Chinsali and Chipata. So, we have rejuvenated the team and boosted the morale once again. So, I can assure you that the team that was put up to see the affair of the game in the country is full of passion and enthusiasm. I can guarantee you that the next four years, things will be different for the game of chess in the country.”
And Chilufya said there is a strong linkage between the sport of chess of education, has it has capacity to boost the Intelligence Quotient(IQ).
“Chess has the ability for cognitive development. So, there is a serious relationship between education and chess. It improves your focus, your concentration. In fact, some people believe chess is a science. It prepares you for any eventualities in life. You can literally face anyone because it improves your courage levels,  your concentration levels and you simply become sharp. I will take this opportunity and call on parents to allow the children to learn chess. We have got qualified trainers and  a lot of academies in the country. It definitely develops how the child grows and reasons,” he said.
And Chilufya said CFZ is very sensitive to gender issues.
He said  a deliberate policy  has been put in place to ensure that chess becomes popular among the women folks.
“Numbers for women in chess are skyrocketing. Recently among the team that went to Madagascar to participate in the Zone 4.3, it was a woman, Lina Mululu who came with the title. So, I can guarantee you that the number of women in chess is skyrocketing,” he said