By Rex Mphisa
TWIN towns, Beitbridge and Musina have resuscitated the Two Countries Marathon that had been abandoned in 2018 due to lack of funding.
Today the event is funded to the tune of close R120 000.
Chairman of the 42 kilometre event run between the two towns in Zimbabwe and South African Michael Moatshe, a chief director in the Sports, Arts And Recreation department for Limpopo Province said the event in now here to stay.
“We are funding this event and we plan to have it as a permanent feature on our annual calendar. It had been stopped in 2018 because of lack of funding. As a department we have handed it to an athletics club to host it for us,” Moatshe said.
Soutpansberg Athletic Club in South Africa has been on the social and mainstream media advertising the event whose registration closed Monday for the event to take place Saturday.
“We are pleased to announce the return of the Two Countries Marathon. Save the date: 20 September 2025. This unique marathon offers an unforgettable experience. The 42.2km race commences in Zimbabwe, crosses the border into South Africa, and requires pre-entries and passports. Pre-entries are also mandatory for the 21.1km race. We look forward to seeing you there,” ran one of the Facebook announcements of the event.
On Air organisers of the event were on Beitbridge Community Radio Lotsha FM and Musina FM advertising the event Beitbridge Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola said was more than an ordinary marathon.
“From our side we have a memorandum of understanding with Musina and this event comes to cement the relationship. We have some partnerships on Wellness and Cultural Exchanges. This brings us together as a people just separated by a river,” said Ramakgapola.
“The event fulfils our cultural exchange and besides every gathering in the town has economic benefits for businesses in the town and around us,” he said.
Yesterday the committee arranging the event toured the 20 kilometre stretch of the marathon into Zimbabwe and familiarised with the water points of the international run. The starting point is deep in the rural area near Malala on the Beitbridge-Bulawayo Road.
The committee including security departments, immigration officials from the two countries, Municipality police from both countries, sport and athletics bodies did final fine-tuning of the event expected to attract well to do local names on these events.
“I am well informed the Zimbabwe National Army Athletics Club will join us for the event. Next year it should be bigger because Zimbabwe’s athletics associations have been advised,” Ramagkapola said.
Several businesses had partnered Beitbridge Municipality in Zimbabwe where Discovery Ambulances, Econet Wireless, Simbisa Brands, to name a few were among companies taking part.