adminon September 20, 2003 at the age of 80.
The road race was inaugurated in 1995 by the late Vice-President Muzenda who was a keen sports follower and wanted to use this event as part of his efforts to raise sporting awareness in the Masvingo Province.
And Saturday morning will see most of the country’s top male and female road-runners making their way to Mabhugu, 20km from Mupandawana Growth Point along Bhasera Road, to compete in this annual event.
In fact, the race is scheduled to start at 6am at Mabhugu and will finish at Paradise Park Motel in Gutu.
Registration for this year’s race is on Friday at Paradise Park Motel.
One of the race’s organisers, Tongai Muzenda, the son of the late Vice-President, yesterday said that they were expecting more than 1 200 athletes to take part in this Saturday’s event.
“Last year we had a total of 1 200 runners for this event, but from what I’m hearing, we’ll have more than this number because some of the local road races have been postponed or cancelled.
“So, we are expecting a lot of people to come down to Gutu on Saturday for this year’s Simon Muzenda Gutu Half-marathon,” Tongai Muzenda said.
Apart from the main 21km race, Tongai Muzenda said they will have other race categories for the elderly, kids, boys and girls.
“For the elderly and children, we have lined up a 5km race for them and we’ve also included a 10km event for the Under-20 boys and girls.
“And for the main half-marathon race, we will have a section for the veterans, that is anybody who is above the age of 45.
“But those athletes who are between 20 and 45 years will be considered the same and they will abe fighting for the top honours in the main event.
“We will also have a 4x5km road relay for both men and women. Unfortunately, there won’t be any category for the wheelchair athletes this year.
“In fact, we used to have a category for the wheelchair athletes in the past, but we won’t be having it this year because we had a problem with the National Athletic Association of Zimbabwe who wanted us to stage a separate race mainly designed for the wheelchair athletes.
“So, funds permitting, we will have another event for the wheelchair athletes at the same venue in Gutu in December,” Tongai Muzenda said.
He also disclosed that the first man and woman home in the main 21km race on Saturday will receive US$2 500 each.
“We are still working on the other (cash) prizes and incentives, but there will also be medals and T-shirts for all the participants.”
The Simon Muzenda Gutu Half-marathon has over the past 17 years received a lot of financial support from the local corporate world, including Delta Beverages.
Tongai Muzenda said for this year’s event, they have roped in a number of other sponsors who include two mining companies Unki and Mimo-sa.
“Tongaat Hullet have also chipped in with some sponsorship which came in the form of one tonne of sugar and they will also assist us in buying medals for the runners.”
Past winners of the Simon Muzenda Gutu Half-marathon include Lewis Masunda (in the men’s race) and Netherlands-based Olympian Sharon Tavengwa (in the women’s event).
Online Reporter