By Rex Mphisa
SOUTH African Samuel Manamela turned on the power to win the rescucitated Two Countries Marathon between Zimbabwe and South Africa where he broke Zimbabwe’s six year dominance.
Manamela, 28, of Masai Sports Club where Caster Semenya hails, for more than 25 kilometres ran behind Zimbabwe’s 44 year old Nkosiyazi Sibanda of Blanket Mine who came second, walked away with R10 000.
Sibanda (44) and a previous event winner said Manamela took advantage of the terrain to dislodge him. He pocketed R8 000.
South African Tinos Munjelele of Venda Athletic came third while Zimbabwean Charles Soza came fourth.
Evidence Mudzamiri won the women’s 42,2 kilometres clocking 2.41 hours to beat several other male contestants.
Overall Zimbabweans dominated the colourful event which Limpopo Minister of Sports Funani Jerry Maseko said had the power to unite Africa.
In his address at the finishing line where he congratulated winners Maseko said the event will grow big to unite Africa and organisers must not rest and keep planning ahead.
Sections of the border posts in both countries were reserved for the Marathon that SA took seriously and temporarily halted operations to allow a smooth passage of the 89 athletes who participated in the event.
It started just after Malala Secondary School in Zimbabwe and used the new bypass of Musina before turning to Eric Louw in Musina.
Until yesterday Zimbabwe had been dominating in the marathon stopped in 2019 due to lack of funding but resumed stronger this year with the SA government pouring R127 000.
“We want this event to grow bigger and better until it becomes a continental event. It must unite Africa and must grow,” said Maseko who ran with fellow Minister Albert Nguluvhe for a few kilometres when they jointly officiated at the starting point.
In Zimbabwe Nguluvhe urged the people of the two countries to fight against the drug scourge sweeping across both countries, a call later reinforced by Maseko.
Over the past few years, Zimbabwe and SA have been battling the scourge of illicit drugs and narcotics, which is slowly gnawing at the younger generation.
In Zimbabwe, commonly abused drugs include Codeine; Methamphetamine (crystal meth, commonly known as meth, speed, mutoriro, Chalk, Ice, Crank, Guka; Glue; Broncleer (Bronco); Solvents — Fembo and Genkem; Chlorpromazine — Maragado; Mangemba; Cane spirit; Cocaine, Cannabis/Marijuana/Mbanje (which is mostly abused or traded under a variety of street names such as — Mbanje, Ganja, Dope, Weed, Blunt, Grass, Pot, Boom, Spliff, Mary-Jane, Skunk, Kiff).
Of late Skunk is shipped into Zimbabwe from Swaziland across South Africa which also produced banned cough syrups which are habit forming.
According to research, drivers of drug abuse include peer pressure, broken families, emotional and physical abuse, and curiosity, often resulting in addiction.
But there is also another driver: American pop culture. Young people in Africa are hooked onto television where film and music stars glorify drug usage. The popular culture depicts drug usage as a positive thing and a key ingredient to having fun.