Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE seventh edition of the Beitbridge Mayor’s anti-litter half marathon will be held next month along the Beitbridge Bulawayo Highway with organisers saying the stage is now set.
The race will be held on November 26 and is being organised by Beitbridge Municipality as part of raising awareness on littering and pollution issues in the border town and along the major highways leading to Bulawayo and Harare.
Littering has become a perennial headache for the local authority especially in the high and medium density suburbs as well as along the major highways leading to Harare and Bulawayo.
It is reported that the town produces over 1 000 tons of solid waste monthly with a further 100 tons going to land pollution.
The municipality is reportedly collecting only 700 tons.
Since its inception, the half marathon was being held along the Beitbridge-Masvingo road and the race was moved to the Beitbridge- Bulawayo road in 2020.
Under the new set up, there will be a 25 km race starting from Mtetengwe, 15km starting off at Malala
Business Centre and a 5km power walk competition is set to start at Mabidi suburbs.
All the races will end at the town centre.
Beitbridge Municipality town clerk, Loud Ramakgapola said registration was opened early to allow many people to participate.
He said they were targeting a threshold of 700 athletes in all the races.
“This is our seventh anniversary year and we want to celebrate it in style. The race will be held under the theme ‘Beitbridge my home, My smart city, Running against litter’,” said Ramakgapola.
“Well in terms of preparations, the stage is set. We have done the ground work for people to register. Our target is to register at least 700 athletes”.
Those interested in the marathon should register at Beitbridge Municipality’s main offices or at the housing offices in Dulilvhadzimu suburb or Tshithaudze Clinic.
The official encouraged people living with disabilities to take part in this race.
Entry fees, he said, were pegged at R50 or US$3 and that they were putting together a lot of prizes for the athletes.
“So far the individual athletes are sponsoring themselves, but as a committee we are doing our best to make this event memorable,” said Ramakgapola. – @tupeyo
Online Reporter