happiness Chikwanha
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
MORE than 100 long distance athletes who took part in last Saturday’s Cheetahs Athletics Club Christmas Pass-Vumba Half Marathon did not imagine that winners of the strenuous competition will not end with just crossing the finishing line at Meikles Park, but actually at Mutare Central Police Station after failing to get their dues.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Nobert Muzondo confirmed that the organiser, Moses Maguchu was picked up for questioning after athletes filed a complaint of non-payment of their dues.
“Yes, we picked up Moses Maguchu for questioning after some athletes had filed a complaint that he allegedly swindled the money from sponsors which was meant for their prizes,” said Muzondo. Irate athletes, some of them who eventually received what was due to them, thanks to Mutasa South Member of Parliament, Misheck Mugadza’s act of benevolence, confided in this newspaper that they were not happy with the organisers’ lack of transparency on the prizes money. Fifty-seven-year-old Mercy Westgate, who won the above 50 years 21km contest after clocking 59 minutes, 25 seconds, said: “I really want to appreciate Honourable Mugadza who chipped in with prize money for my category after I had won and got nothing.
“We are not happy with such organisers who take athletes for granted. We have been participating in these competitions for a long time and we feel the organisers must be professional in their conduct.”
The Christmas Pass-Vumba Half Marathon — conducted under the theme: “Run for love, run for the love of the body” — saw participants competing in different categories and age groups that include, but not limited to 5km fun run, 10km and 21km.
According to the advertisement poster circulated prior to the event, participants were asked to pay a registration fee of US$10 or $12 000 to partake in the competition.
Contacted for comment, Maguchu said: “Yes, we had challenges with athletes who demanded their prizes soon after the race. The main problem we faced was that some sponsors did not turn up for the event after pledging to cover some of the prize money awards. Otherwise, this race was legit and went on very well until the moment when winners wanted their prizes.”
Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) coordinator for Manicaland, Shupikai Berejena said he is yet to get a formal report on the matter.
“I have heard that there was chaos after athletes failed to get their dues. However, I am yet to get a formal report that I requested after hearing of the skirmishes,” said Berejena.
The Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB), the athletics administrative body at provincial level, confirmed that Cheetahs Athletics Club is their affiliate, but the board was not represented during the event.
“We know Cheetahs Athletics Club as our affiliate, but during this particular event we were not represented. We are also investigating what really went wrong,” said MAB chairman, Joshua Matume.
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