Patrick Mubwandarikwa
SPORTS WRITER
THE ZB Marathon has received a major boost after being recognised as a Comrades Marathon qualifier, adding greater prestige to this year’s event which will be held on September 20 at ZB Sports Club in Harare.
The development is expected to attract more serious runners to the race as athletes will now have an opportunity to use the ZB Marathon as part of their qualification journey for the prestigious Comrades Marathon.
Running under the theme “Say No to Drugs,” the event attracted about 500 runners in its inaugural edition before doubling participation to around 1 000 last year. Organisers are expecting more than 2 000 participants in this year’s edition.
The marathon will feature four races, with the 42km event serving as the main race, alongside the 21km, 10km and 5km races.
Speaking ahead of the event, ZB Bank head of brand and corporate communications Emilliah Mabika said the marathon had grown beyond being just a corporate sporting event, with its focus firmly placed on community wellness, inclusivity and youth development.
“We are so excited with our marathon this year because we are celebrating 75 years of being there for you, providing financial solutions. When you look at our DNA, when we look at our purpose to improve lives through service and solutions, we are saying that we are there for the long haul, for you.
“We are also looking at sustainability and that is the reason why we are investing in the marathon, because it speaks to sustainability, it speaks to community well-being.
“When you run, it means that your mental ability is taken care of, your physical is taken care of, and your emotional is taken care of,” said Mabika.
The event will also feature a wheelchair race, which Mabika said was central to the bank’s drive towards inclusivity by ensuring that people with disabilities are part of the wellness journey as well as a way of spreading awareness on drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people.
“We are calling on everyone, especially our youth, to invest in things like the marathon. Come and take interest in running because these are some of the things that maintain or reduce our stress levels. When you come to the marathon it teaches you endurance, it teaches you discipline and it also conditions your body,” she said.
ZB Athletics captain Trymore Muhlanga, who is also the ZB Financial Holdings (ZBFH) group strategy executive, believes the development will give the race greater international appeal as runners seek qualifying opportunities for the 2027 Comrades Marathon.
“It (being a Comrades Marathon qualifier) means a lot as it means we are going international as a brand and we are very enthusiastic about the fact that runners out there, as they look for a Comrades qualifier, are going to be able to count the ZB Marathon as an option.
“We hope they use it. It is very important for us that international participants and runners from the rest of Africa will be able to use the ZB Marathon as a qualifier for Comrades,” Muhlanga said.
With the ZB Marathon now carrying the added incentive of being a Comrades Marathon qualifier, the September 20 race is expected to attract a stronger field as runners chase both personal milestones and a ticket towards one of the world’s most renowned ultra-marathons.