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Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
THREE-TIME Comrades Marathon winner and legendary long-distance runner, Stephen Muzhingi, is eyeing a sensational return to the famous race, which gave him some fortune and international recognition.
Muzhingi, who turns 43 in October, has been off the radar since 2019 when his wife passed away.
Zimpapers Sports Hub caught up with the veteran runner at an awards ceremony recently hosted by security company Real Star Security.
Muzhingi was awarded for being the best-ever Zimbabwean Comrades Marathon runner.
He won the 89km race, held annually in Durban, for three consecutive years between 2009 and 2011.
“I won the Comrades Marathon three times in a row and that changed my life because I invested the rewards wisely,” Muzhingi said.
In August 2011, a few weeks after winning his third Comrades Marathon, Muzhingi was given US$50 000 by the late President Robert Mugabe.
“I invested in properties and since then my life changed,” said Muzhingi.
“I also ended up joining the Zimbabwe Defence Forces where I did several courses, which have been helpful even up to now.
“I came from a poor background and most people knew me as a barefoot runner but athletics changed my life,” added Muzhingi. Sadly, the death of his wife was so devastating for Muzhingi, who had to temporarily hang up his running shoes.
“My wife was very sick from 2016 up to 2019 when she died, I lost hope of everything,” a distraught Muzhingi recalled.
“I decided to stop running so that I could relax and recover from my wife’s death.
“I also needed to look after my kids as well.”
Fortunately, Muzhingi says he has gotten over the demise of his wife.
He is now focusing on making a sensational return to the Comrades Marathon.
“I started training in June and I am slowly gearing up for the 2025 Comrades Marathon.
“My feeling is that I am still strong, I am just 43 and I can run competitively until I get to 47.
“I want to do this to appease my wife”.
The legendary runner also won the 2012 Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa, cementing his place among Zimbabwe’s best-ever ultra-marathon runners.
“The journey to stardom was not easy but I persevered,” says Muzhingi.
“I went to other countries to seek greener pastures and the move paid off.
“But above all, it was through hard work and determination that I reached those heights.
“The secret behind is training hard and staying humble. If you are not humble you can’t handle pain.”
Retired runner Marko Mambo, who had several top 10 finishes in the Comrades Marathon, and another veteran runner Mike Fokorani were among those honoured at the awards event.
Givemore Mudzinganyama, who was the best male Zimbabwean runner at this year’s race, and his wife Nobukhosi Tshuma, who was the overall best female runner, were also rewarded for flying the country’s flag high.
Real Star Security Group Sales, Marketing, and Business Development Director, Sharon Samkange, pledged her company’s continued support for the Comrades Marathon athletes.
“As Real Star Security our main focus is trying to give back to the community and the way we have projected our-selves is to empower the sporting activities that are undertaken in the country.
“And to give people opportunities to showcase their talents,” she said.
“We have picked that sports people in Zimbabwe may not be well celebrated, hence the reason why we took it upon ourselves as a company to be able to empower these people and sponsor them where possible.”
Online Reporter