Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Senior Lifestyle Writer
It takes a gruelling seven hours and 36 minutes to drive from Beitbridge to Harare on a normal day, given favourable weather conditions.
This journey can be daunting for those who are timid and inexperienced, as it is one of the busiest routes in the SADC region.
The trip can be memorable, especially when chauffeured by professional and seasoned drivers.
Ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy and in good condition for the journey to be enjoyable. Some travellers engage assistant drivers to help them in case of fatigue along the way.
Upon reaching Masvingo, one can feel relieved, as they will be halfway to their destination. After arriving in Harare, a proper massage is essential to ease the pain endured during the journey.
Sydney Moyo, an events manager, club disc jockey, wellness coach and long-distance runner, has just completed this journey in 21 days.
He has been trending on TikTok, which has endeared him to fans.
Accompanied by logistics and welfare manager Violet Ncube, driver Bothwell Sithole, and camera person Laymore “Simba Keys” Murimba, Syda Boss undertook the initiative.
For Syda Boss, this initiative was both a fun run and a mission with purpose.
Along the route, he took breaks to hold awareness campaigns on six themes: “No to gender-based and domestic violence,” “No to drug and substance abuse,” “No to child abuse,” road safety, HIV/AIDS, and cancer awareness.
Syda Boss’ mission started on March 3 and ended on March 24. As a wellness coach and fitness enthusiast, his aim was to shatter records while fulfilling his goals and mission.
By the way, who is Syda Boss? How did he manage that gruelling run? What were his aims and mission running from Beitbridge to Harare in 22 days? These are the questions on many people’s lips.
In an interview with The Herald on Saturday Lifestyle, Syda Boss said he firmly believes his mission was accomplished the way he intended.
“I have been thinking about this initiative for some time after realising that there are social issues that need urgent attention, and I went for this with the view to address major societal issues in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“My one-man marathon was a way to tackle critical issues like gender-based violence, drug and substance abuse, and road traffic safety, which have been taking many lives. During the 22-day solo marathon, I made stopovers where my team and I held awareness campaigns by engaging rural communities along the route.
“I am not only involved in events management, but my heart bleeds for the youth who are caught in this web, especially regarding drug and substance abuse and new HIV infections.”
To ensure the journey was manageable, Syda Boss was accompanied by his welfare manager Ncube, who was in charge of logistics, food, and the general welfare of the team.
“I am always with a welfare manager who has become my business partner. She has come into my life as a blessing and complements me in all the awareness campaigns I have staged so far. It’s quite a blessing having her as one of my business partners, and I was getting free massages after each race,” he stressed.
To attract global attention, the 34-year-old had the whole event streamed live.
“This significant occasion was streamed live for the greater part of my routines across several social platforms. Since it’s a nationally historic event, we saw its impact by reaching out to a larger audience both locally and internationally from a business perspective.
“There were major stops in all towns and growth points that allowed us to interact with people who shared their stories.” He praised corporations that value mental wellness for fully rallying behind him. “During the solo marathon, organisations and individuals rallied behind us, and we can assure you that another solo marathon will be coming next month from Mutare to Harare as we continue this initiative.
“This one-man marathon was a game changer that was fully embraced by many, and we need more partnerships for future events,” Syda Boss said.
Musically, he has also written songs dedicated to some of Zimbabwe’s influential and wealthy individuals. “On the music side, I have written songs dedicated to our affluent people to show the world that Zimbabwe is not a poor country; it has its own rich individuals changing lives. One of the songs is called ‘Mbinga DzemuZimbabwe,’ and I’ve written two songs dedicated to the senior men’s soccer team, the Zim Warriors: ‘Go Bhora,’ and another for the national rugby team called ‘Sables Woye,’ which have been embraced by many.”
Born into a family of four in Zvishavane, Syda Boss has always been a sports enthusiast.
“I went to school in Zvishavane, where I played junior football for Shabanie Mine FC. I left soccer after an injury and came to Harare, where I am now involved in entertainment, hosting events, and fitness programs. I don’t regret my decision because now I’m shining, doing what I love the most,” he recounted.
With all eyes on him as he prepared for the expedition, the solo marathoner remains confident about taking his campaign to other parts of the country.
“I was very ready for the mission I just completed, where I proved that fitness and mental wellness are key in our daily lives. Exercising is healthy, as it boosts one’s mental well-being and raises self-esteem.”
For the benefit of fitness enthusiasts and adventure lovers, Syda Boss outlined how his rigorous journey started and ended.
On his first day, he was given a police escort in Beitbridge and ran 78 km from Beitbridge to the Lion and Elephant Motel along the Beitbridge–Masvingo highway.
Afterwards, he held a campaign the following day. After the first campaign, Syda Boss ran a 58 km stage from the Lion and Elephant Motel to Rutenga.
On the fourth day, he camped in Rutenga to meet the rural community while campaigning against drug and substance abuse.
After this initiative, he proceeded from Rutenga to Ngundu, a journey of 54 km. On the sixth day, he was the main speaker at this growth point, popular with long-distance truck drivers, raising awareness about HIV and AIDS. The marathon continued as the athlete ran from Ngundu to Ngomahuru turn-off, a 65-km journey. He also campaigned against gender-based violence while raising awareness about mental health at the local shopping centre.
His resilience was highlighted as he ran from Ngomahuru to Masvingo, a 51-km distance. He also explored the ancient town of Masvingo, raising awareness about early cancer detection. Like any tourist enthusiast, he had an appreciation tour of Great Zimbabwe, travelling by car.
After visiting the Zimbabwe ruins and reaching the halfway mark, he ran a further 51 km from Masvingo to Mvuma. Following this, another roadshow was held in the mining town of Mvuma. However, he and his crew once had to sleep in the car after running out of cash, though they were helped along the way.
His strength was tested with another 51-km stage from Mvuma to Chivhu.
He stopped in Chivhu, where another roadshow was planned for the following day.
The mayor of Chivhu hosted them, making the expedition memorable.
He then ran from Chivhu to Featherstone, completing a 47-km stage. Featherstone residents embraced him, but this time he developed blisters.
He endured another 61-km stage from Featherstone to Beatrice, walking parts of it because he was limping. Syda Boss wrapped up his one-man marathon with a 54-km run from Beatrice to Harare. On his last day, he ran from Chegutu to Harare and received a warm embrace from fans at Joina City.
While this may sound like an April Fools’ Day prank, Syda Boss was determined to make a significant impact not only as a runner but as a true influencer in the campaign against critical issues facing the nation.
He still promises more to come as he dreams of shattering records.
