06/09/2026
CHESEKELA GIFT AT AFRICA’S BIGGEST VOLLEYBALL STAGE.
Chesekela Gift Maked History as Zambia’s First International Referee at the African Nations Championship.
When Chesekela stepped onto the referee stand at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, he was carrying more than a whistle and a referee badge.
He was carrying the Zambian flag. And by the end of the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Nations Championship, he had written his name into the history of Zambian volleyball.
Chesekela a member of the Zambia Police Service, has become the first Zambian international volleyball referee to officiate at the CAVB African Nations Championship, Africa's premier national-team volleyball competition.
But his historic achievement did not end with simply being selected for the tournament.
He was repeatedly entrusted with important assignments throughout the championship, culminating in a place on the officiating team for the bronze-medal match between Cameroon and Rwanda.
For Gift, Nairobi was therefore not just another international appointment.
It was a breakthrough. His journey at the championship reflected the confidence placed in his ability by the continental officiating authorities.
Across the tournament, he served in multiple officiating capacities, including First Referee, Second Referee, Third Referee and Video Challenge Referee.
His pool-stage appointments included:
- Senegal vs Uganda – Third Referee
- Egypt vs Burkina Faso – Second Referee
- Egypt vs Senegal – First Referee
- Cameroon vs Tunisia – Third Referee
- Mali vs Kenya – First Referee
- Burundi vs Mali – Video Challenge Referee
The assignments placed the Zambian official in matches involving some of the continent's most established women's volleyball programmes.
FROM POOL STAGE TO THE BUSINESS END
As the championship entered its decisive phase, Gift's responsibilities continued.
He was appointed First Referee for the Nigeria vs Democratic Republic of Congo classification match before serving as Second Referee in the Nigeria vs Mali ranking match.
Then came the assignments that elevated his tournament to another level.
He was appointed Video Challenge Referee for the first semi-final between Rwanda and Egypt. The assignment placed him directly within the technology-driven decision-making process at one of the most important stages of the championship.
But the biggest recognition came next.
A BRONZE-MEDAL MATCH IN AFRICA'S ELITE
Chesekela was selected as Video Challenge Referee for the bronze-medal match between Cameroon and Rwanda.
This was a landmark moment. The bronze-medal match was not simply another fixture. It was one of the championship's two final medal matches, contested by teams fighting for a place on the continental podium and a ticket to the FIVB 2027 world Cup. Cameroon eventually defeated Rwanda 3–0 to claim the bronze medal and qualified to the world championship.
Standing among the officials responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of such an important match was a major achievement for the Zambian referee.
For a country making its mark on the African volleyball stage, having a Zambian official trusted with a medal match represented another important statement: Zambia has officials capable of operating at the highest level of African volleyball.
A HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ZAMBIA
Gift's achievement came during a particularly significant championship for Zambia.
The Zambia Women's National Team was making its first-ever appearance at the CAVB Women's African Nations Championship.
The team also made history by progressing from Pool A into the Round of 16 after defeating Mali 3–1. Zambia finished second in its pool behind hosts Kenya.
Zambia subsequently faced Ghana in the Round of 16 before entering the classification phase.
The team defeated Burkina Faso 3–0, later faced Mali and Democratic Republic of Congo in classification matches, and eventually finished 12th overall.
It was a historic debut for the team. And alongside it, a Zambian referee was also making history.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP PODIUM
The tournament concluded with Egypt defeating hosts Kenya 3–0 in the final to become African champions.
The final top three were:
🥇 Egypt – Champions
🥈 Kenya – Silver Medal
🥉 Cameroon – Bronze Medal
Egypt's victory also secured the country's women's volleyball berth at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while Egypt, Kenya and Cameroon secured Africa's three places at the 2027 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup.
Gift's final major assignment of the championship therefore came in a medal match involving one of the three teams that would qualify for the 2027 FIVB World Cup.
MORE THAN A REFEREE
Gift's achievement carries significance beyond the referee stand.
As a Constable in the Zambia Police Service, his journey represents the intersection of public service, discipline and sporting excellence.
The police uniform and the referee uniform may serve different purposes, but both demand qualities such as discipline, integrity, concentration, responsibility and sound judgement.
Those qualities were on display throughout his Nairobi assignments. His journey also sends an important message to young Zambian officials.
International opportunities are earned through preparation, competence, consistency and professionalism.
A NEW BENCHMARK FOR ZAMBIAN OFFICIATING
For many years, Zambia has sought greater recognition on the continental volleyball stage. In Nairobi, that recognition came not only through the national team's historic participation, but also through the performance of one of its officials.
Gift's appointment history—from pool matches to ranking games, from the semi-final to the bronze-medal match—demonstrates a progression that every aspiring Zambian referee can look towards.
He did not merely attend the championship. He was trusted with it.
And when the biggest matches arrived, Zambia was still represented.
THE LEGACY OF NAIROBI 2026
The 2026 CAVB Women's African Nations Championship will remain a landmark chapter in Chesekela Gift's officiating career.
It was the tournament where he became the first Zambian international volleyball referee to officiate at this level.
It was where he handled assignments as First, Second and Third Referee. It was where he was trusted with Video Challenge duties during a semi-final.
And it was where he stood among the officials of a continental bronze-medal match.
From the streets and institutions of Zambia to the biggest volleyball arenas in Africa, Constable Chesekela Gift has demonstrated that the Zambian flag can fly proudly on the continent's biggest sporting stages.
His story is one of discipline, opportunity, preparation and service.
And perhaps most importantly, it is a reminder that Zambia's rise in volleyball is not limited to the players on the court.
It extends to the coaches.
The administrators.
The technical officials.
And the referees who ensure that the game is played with fairness and integrity.
FROM THE POLICE UNIFORM TO THE REFEREE STAND — CHESEKELA GIFT HAS SERVED ZAMBIA WITH PRIDE. 🇿🇲🏐
SERVICE. DISCIPLINE. LEADERSHIP.
ZAMBIA KU CHALO.
