The 7th edition of the Binga Kasambabezi Marathon is set to take place on September 28th, with 700 athletes expected to participate, Community Podium has learnt.
This year’s event will be held under the theme “The Power of Sports in Preservation of Natural Resources and Mitigating Human and Wildlife Conflicts Emanating from the Effects of Climate Change. A Community Driven Participation Initiative.”
Recent Ringo Ncube, Chairperson of the event, confirmed that preparations are on track and that this year’s segment will coincide with the second edition of the BaTonga Cultural Festival, which will kick off two days prior and end on the day of the marathon.
“We are expecting a full house of close to 700 athletes. We will start by showcasing our culture through the cultural festival from September 26th to 28th, culminating in the marathon on the 28th,” Ncube explained.
When asked about the reason behind combining the events, Ncube stated that their main aim is to promote tourism, sports, and the Tonga culture.
“We want to promote tourism in the district (Binga) and use sports as a vehicle to showcase our culture to the world.”
Participants will compete in various categories, including the 21km half marathon (US$15), 10km run and wheelchair race (US$10), and 5km (US$5).
Unfortunately, the 42km full marathon was shelved last year due to lack of support and sponsorship. According to Ncube, the event relies on partners and well-wishers, and prize money is determined by their contributions.
“However, we are grateful for our partners, who have never disappointed us. They have made this community-driven project grow yearly, and we go by the motto, ‘It’s your marathon, it’s my marathon, it’s our marathon’.”
The competition is open to participants from other countries, with organizers currently communicating with athletes from Botswana and Zambia.
The BaTonga Cultural Festival features several activities including traditional dances, live bands, poetry, theatre and film, music, craft exhibitions, boat cruise, museum tours, village tours among others.