malvernmugadzikwa
Langton Nyakwenda
ONE was born and raised in Rusape, while the other grew up in Zhombe, but athletics united them in South Africa, where they are gradually transforming into a famous couple.
Long-distance running connected Givemore Mudzinganyama and Nobukhosi Buhle Tshuma.
And they are now Zimbabwe’s finest marathon couple.
Rusape-bred Mudzinganyama (34) was the best Zimbabwean male runner in the 2024 Comrades Marathon in Durban.
Similarly, his wife Tshuma (30) was also the top-performing Zimbabwean woman in the same race.
Last year, Mudzinganyama won the coveted Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, while his wife came fourth in the women’s category.
They both run under the South Africa-based Entsika Athletics Club, whose coach Hendrick Ramaala is regarded as one of the best in Southern Africa.
“It feels good to be a couple that is doing well in sport,” Mudzinganyama told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“It shows that what we are doing is working; it shows that the support that we are giving each other is benefitting us as a family.”
Speaking on the sidelines of an awards ceremony hosted by Real Star Security, Mudzinganyama also explained how he convinced his wife to become a professional long-distance runner.
Tshuma weighed over 100 kilogrammes (kg) and was a social runner when she started dating Mudzinganyama.
She currently weighs 52kg and is now a professional long-distance runner.
“When we met, I was already a professional and she was just running for fun.
“I then encouraged her to lose weight and she spent a lot of months in training.
“It’s all about encouraging each other, giving each other pieces of advice,” says Mudzinganyama.
The couple was rewarded at a recent function hosted by Real Star Security, whose chief executive officer Cashington Mavunduke is also a passionate Comrades Marathon runner.
Three-time Comrades Marathon winner Stephen Muzhingi, former Two Oceans winner Marko Mambo and Mike Fokorani were also honoured at the same function.
“People can take it as an example; that if you support each other as a couple, you can achieve a lot in sport or any other field.
“It’s nice to be a family that has the same ethics and values.”
Mudzinganyama and Tshuma’s exploits have captured the attention of the South African media.
“This year’s race (Comrades Marathon) will see a married couple making their debut, with the husband and wife sure to start among contenders.
“Last year’s Two Oceans Marathon champion Givemore Mudzinganyama, who was third in this year’s edition, and his wife Nobuhle Tshuma — fourth in the Two Oceans in 2023 — will line up at the Durban City Hall on Sunday morning intent on making history,” wrote South African news outlet IOL just before this year’s Comrades Marathon.
And Tshuma is convinced the couple can make history by becoming the first husband and wife winners of the Ultimate Human Race.
“It was always my dream that one day I would run Comrades and in December 2022, I told my husband about this desire,” revealed Tshuma.
“But my husband told me to wait until I get to 30 years. I turned 30 this year and I also did well in the Comrades Marathon.
“We support each other through and through.”
For this couple, it seems their life is all about long-distance running, and nothing else.
“We met in South Africa, through athletics.
“I was just a social runner, my weight was around 110kg, but now I am 52kg.
“He built me from scratch; he told me I would be a winner.
“If you get into our house, you will be bored if you are not a runner because we are always talking about marathons,” quipped Tshuma.
She added: “It’s good to be honoured as a couple; it inspires us to keep flying the Zimbabwean flag higher.”
Real Star Security pledged to continue supporting Zimbabwe’s long-distance runners.
“Our boss Cashington Mavunduke is a Comrades Marathon runner and is passionate about helping athletes,” said Real Star Security Group sales, marketing and business development director Sharon Samkange.
“We have noticed that sportspeople in Zimbabwe may not be well-celebrated, hence the reason we took it upon ourselves as a company to be able to empower these people and sponsor them where possible,” she added.
Online Reporter