adminEllina Mhlanga
Sports Reporter
AFTER successfully hosting the inaugural Chipayi Women’s 5km road race last year, the event returns today in Highfield with veteran distance runner Tabitha Tsatsa among the participants for the second year running.
The race is made up of six categories – Women Open, Junior Open, Under-14s, Mistress, Grand Mistress and wheelchair.
The race will start and finish at Machipisa Shopping Centre. It is organised by Lindiwe Chipayi and supported by the Harare Athletic Board (HAB); and it aims to promote women in sport and create awareness on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.
Chipayi said after an overwhelming response last year from the community, she decided to stage the competition again this year and is likely to become an annual event.
“We realised that when we held the inaugural race there was an overwhelming response, there was so much interest even after the race. The women really appreciated the initiative and we decided to have it again this year.
“It’s likely to become an annual event and we hope as we continue to hold the race we can get some sponsors on board,” said Chipayi.
This year the race will feature juniors (Under-20) and Under-14s as well, presenting some aspiring young athletes the platform to showcase their talent.
“For this year, besides the winners getting some money prizes, every woman who participates will get a token of appreciation.
“I want to promote women in sport, in athletics. We have seen the likes of Minister Kirsty Coventry, who represented the country well during her days as an athlete. So I strongly believe women, if given a chance, can do well.
“We want to promote a healthy lifestyle for women, just for them to know the benefit of exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” said Chipayi.
Tsatsa will be leading some of the top athletes from her club such as Rudo Mhonderwa and several others from the community club she has been working with in Chitungwiza.
The veteran runner, who participated in the inaugural event, said it’s important for women to promote each other through sport.
“I am going with some of my athletes. We also have the team from the community club, I am not yet sure of the numbers but we have some athletes coming from there.
“I think this is one of the races that was started in Zimbabwe specifically to encourage women to exercise and to participate in sport. It’s important for me to encourage women and to just meet and network, especially now as we talk about gender-based violence.
“We can also promote awareness through this platform. We would encourage men to also come with their wives and support them so that when we talk about such issues as gender-based violence they are also involved,” said Tsatsa.
After a break from competition and a knee injury that is still to fully heal, Tsatsa said she is not expecting much from today’s race but will give it her best.
HAB secretary-general, Sledge Chinyoka, said this is an opportunity for women from different backgrounds to network and for the community to be involved in sport.
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