Image: FILE/ MARK ANDREWS
The Mzila Ka Tambo Marathon, which honours the memory of former ANC president OR Tambo, is set to return on October 23 after last year’s cancellation due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The race has been run since the centenary birthday celebration of Tambo and is staged in his hometown of Mbizana.
The race aims at improving economic development in the Alfred Nzo and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela municipalities.
Event partners include Metropolitan, Old Mutual, Twizza, African Bank and IEMAS Financial Services.
Mass participation in sports is one of the objectives the road running event aims to achieve; it also wants to bring local and elite athletes together.
“The 42.2km starts at Zikhuba, Mbizana at 6am,” the Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts & culture said in a statement.
“The 21.1km, 10km and 5km races all start at 30 minutes intervals after that.”
“Mzila Ka Tambo Marathon has attracted athletes from as far as Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and also well-known Eastern Cape runners. In its last edition in 2019 it had 600 participants.”
The marathon traces the “footprints” of OR Tambo, meandering through the valleys of Mbizana.
The race is sanctioned by Athletics SA and Athletics Transkei.
“Tambo was passionate about the involvement of youth in sport.
“He led the call for sports unity and even mandated his comrades like Barbara Masekela, Steve Tshwete and many more, to mobilise all sport formations to close ranks and unite,” the statement said.
DispatchLIVE