Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ATHLETICS legend Rabson Murombe, who died on Tuesday morning in Binga at the age of 80, was buried on Wednesday at his Katontola Village homestead.
This was confirmed by Ronald Siyamwamwata, a relative and a prominent sports organiser in Binga.
He said the funeral expenses were catered for by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, who linked up with the Kasambabezi Marathon Committee to facilitate on the ground.
“We are from the funeral, everything went well. We were led by Binga Kasambabezi Marathon chairman, Recent Ncube, an administrator with the local board, Never Mwinde, and members of the local organising committee of the marathon.
“The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee also catered for the funeral expenses through the Binga Kasambabezi Marathon committee,” said Siyamwamwata.
Siyamwamwata said the funeral had over 300 people coming to bid farewell to the athletics legend who represented the country in the 1964 Olympics alongside Mathias Kanda, with whom he had a brief spell at the Colliery Athletics Club.
Born in Binga on September 12, 1945, Murombe etched his name in the history books in 1964 when, alongside Mathias Kanda, he became one of the first Black athletes to represent Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The duo followed Cyprian Tseriwa, who had competed at the 1962 Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games), making Murombe part of a pioneering generation.
Murombe began his education at Manjolo Area in Binga, completing up to Standard Three before moving to Hwange, where he enrolled at St Ignatius Primary School, a known cradle for athletic talent.
Encouraged by St Ignatius headmaster Nelson Mwasinga, Murombe joined the Colliery Athletics Club, quickly establishing himself as a formidable runner. He competed nationally in events like the Chamber of Mines Track and Field Championships, often going head-to-head with some of the country’s best.
He was part of a strong Hwange team that included the likes of sprinter Mwape Sakala, hurdler Phineas Ajida, and veterans such as Tseriwa, Charles Mafika, Vuyani Fulunga Moyo, Adon Treva, and Alfred Ncube.
As a junior, Murombe impressed in his debut Chamber Games 10 000m race, finishing fourth behind Lovemore Tauro, Tseriwa, and Lotia Ndlovu.
Murombe’s personal best marathon time was 2 hours 18 minutes, once a B-standard Olympic qualifying mark. At the Tokyo Olympics, he placed 21st in a field of over 300, attributing his performance to the lack of a personal coach on the trip.
Over his career, he competed against other top local runners, including Pilate Ndlovu, Jacob Ndiweni, Milton Ngwenya, and Bernard Dzoma.
Among his best races was the 1972 Rhodesia Marathon run in Bulawayo on May 28, 1972.
Murombe was knocked down by a cyclist, after checking that he was not fractured, he got to his feet and chased the leading runners to finish the race 2 minutes 52,2 seconds ahead of second-placed John Sakahuni after clocking 2 hours, 36 minutes 47,8 seconds.
Chipo Gara was third in 2 hours 42 minutes 57 seconds.
Murombe’s legacy on both track and road inspired generations of runners who include Zephania Ncube and Thethelani Moyo.
Sidumisile Mabena