About Us
Our Story
Binga sits on the southern shore of Lake Kariba, in one of the most remote districts in Zimbabwe. Funders and networks call places like this the last mile: too far, too small, not worth connecting.
Binga’s people know distance better than anyone. In the late 1950s the BaTonga were moved from the Zambezi valley to make way for the Kariba dam, a removal they call kulonzegwa. The river that gave them life became a lake that divided them from their own families on the Zambian shore.
The Kasambabezi Binga Marathon carries the name of that river. Every year, the people of Binga run beside the water their grandparents left.
Our Story
In 1964, Robson Mulombe ran the Olympic marathon in Tokyo, one of his country’s first black Olympians, wearing bib number 58. A cramp cost him the race he believed could have brought home a medal. He ran it anyway, and he finished.
In 2018 he stood at our start line as guest of honour. He died in May 2025.
Robson Mulombe proved that the last mile can produce a runner the whole world watches. This race exists so that Binga never loses the next one. In his honour:
- The Mulombe Medal goes to [the first Binga born finisher of the 42km]
- Bib 58 is retired and is never issued again
- The Mulombe Fund carries his name and funds the community programmes below
Only Those Who Know
In the Tonga language, Kasambabezi carries wisdom passed down through generations. It speaks of those who know the river — those who understand its beauty, its danger, and its sacred rhythm. On the mighty Zambezi River, only those who know where to bathe are safe — because knowing is survival. Kasambabezi — a word that lives in the hearts of the BaTonga people — means: “Only those who know the river can bathe in it.”
Since 2017
Since 2017, on the shores of Lake Kariba, a movement has been quietly growing — shaped by the earth, the river, and the people of Binga. The Kasambabezi Binga Marathon carries this spirit forward. This is more just a marathon. This is a homecoming. A rite of passage. A cultural awakening. We don’t just run through Binga. We run with Binga. We run to honour the land. We run to lift the people. We run to tell the world: We are here. This isn’t just a racecourse. This is sacred ground with heartbeat lanes and ancestral starting lines.
Mission
To position Binga as a leading destination for cultural tourism, athletic excellence, and community-powered development.
Vision
To host a world-class marathon that celebrates health, heritage, and home — while creating lasting opportunities for the people of Binga.
It is a test of endurance — not just of the body, but of the spirit. It is a journey through one of Zimbabwe’s most breathtaking and culturally rich districts. It is a call to athletes, adventurers, tourists, and dreamers to come and experience Binga beyond what the world thinks they know.
From its pristine sand beaches to the healing waters of Chibwatatata Hot Springs, from traditional Tonga music to the power of Lake Kariba, this marathon is a gateway into a story bigger than sport — it is a story of people, place, and purpose.