Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Manicaland Athletics Board (MAB) has secured the continuation of all its existing event sponsors from the previous season and is now seeking additional corporate partners to expand the province’s athletics programme.
MAB chairman, Joshua “Zesa” Matume, confirmed that Tanganda Tea Company, mobile‑phone network provider, NetOne and insurance firm, Old Mutual will remain as major backers of the region’s long‑distance competitions, which have attracted top national athletes in recent years.
The board’s ability to keep its sponsors intact is seen as a sign of confidence in Manicaland’s athletics administration, and with financial backing secured, MAB plans to attract a larger field of elite runners and boost community participation.
The retention of key sponsors and the push for fresh corporate involvement signal a positive trajectory for athletics in Manicaland, positioning the province as a growing hub for long‑distance running in Zimbabwe.
“I am so excited to inform you that, as the Manicaland Athletics Board leadership, we have managed to retain all the road races held in the province last year. In some of the most notable competitions which we have managed to maintain, we have the Tanganda Half Marathon (21km), Old Mutual Vumba 21km Mountain Race, and NetOne Albun Honde Valley Marathon (42km). This is a great achievement for us because sponsorship is hard to come by,” said Matume.
Matume said MAB is also forging ahead with a raft of development programmes for athletes in the province.
“On athletes’ developmental programmes, each MAB district is expected to hold at least one track and field competition by the end of this month. By mid‑February all districts should be through with coaches and technical officials’ refresher courses. We are working in conjunction with our main stakeholders that include community clubs, National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH), National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) and tertiary institutions clubs. By the end of March, we should have gone through our provincial courses and track and field competition. In a bid to improve the quality and performance of athletics in the province, I am urging all our stakeholders to attend the lined up courses and competitions,” said Matume.
He expressed hope that athletes who hail from the province will give a good account of themselves in different national competitions.
“It is my greatest hope that we will perform outstandingly at national level and beyond as a province, that is if we work as a unit. We have the potential and I have no doubt that we will compete favourably as a province,” said Matume.
