adminThupeyo Muleya, in BEITBRIDGE
DATES for the eighth edition of the Beitbridge Mayor’s Anti-Litter Half Marathon have been shifted from June 3 to July 8 to allow more participants to register.
The race is being organised by Beitbridge Municipality to raise awareness on littering and pollution issues in the border town and along the major highways leading to Bulawayo and Harare.
Beitbridge Municipality spokesperson, Raniel Ndou said changed dates after witnessing a slow start to the registration process. He said they were targeting a threshold of 700 athletes in all the races and only 35 had registered to date.
“This is our 8th anniversary year and we have opened registration early to allow many people to participate,” he said.
“Our target is to register at least 700 athletes. The dates have been moved to July 8, so that we are able to register more people.
“On the day, we are also going to have cyclists as curtain raisers to the event”.
As part of the event, there is a 21km race starting from Mtetengwe ,15km starting off at Malala Business Centre and a 5km power walk competition is set to start at Mabidi suburb.
All the races will end at the town centre.
Those interested in the marathon should register at Beitbridge Municipality’s main offices or at the housing offices in Dulilvhadzimu suburb or Tshithaudze Clinic.
More disabled people are encouraged to take part in this race.
Entry fees, Ndou said, were pegged at R50 or US$3 and that they were putting together a lot of prizes for the athletes.
“The race is held every year to raise awareness on anti-littering around our town and the major highways. We believe that the more we involve the community and many players, we can be able to have a change of mindset in managing our environment,” he said.
Littering has become a perennial headache for the local authority especially in the high and medium density suburbs and along the major highways leading to Harare and Bulawayo.
It is reported that the town produces over 1000 tonnes of solid waste monthly with a further 100 tonnes going to land pollution.
The Municipality is reportedly collecting at least 700 tonnes.
Online Reporter