Dr Biteko leads 12,000 in NBC Marathon, raises 700m/- for maternal health

DODOMA: Deputy Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko yesterday spearheaded a remarkable turnout of over 12,000 participants in the NBC Dodoma Marathon, held at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma.

The marathon, organized by the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), successfully raised a significant 700m/- aimed at supporting three critical initiatives focused on saving maternal and child lives.

This year’s marathon attracted a diverse group of runners from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, who showcased their competitive spirit across various distances, including the 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km races.

Dr Biteko, along with several respected leaders and representatives from various organizations, actively participated in the 5 km race, embodying the event’s spirit of inclusivity.

Addressing the crowd during the awards ceremony for marathon winners and stakeholders, Dr Biteko applauded NBC for their exceptional efforts and highlighted the impressive increase in participants from just 1,500 in 2020 to the current 12,000.

He underscored that this surge reflects a growing public awareness regarding the importance of physical activity, which plays a vital role in combating non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and kidney issues.

“Statistics indicate that 33 percent of Tanzanians struggle with obesity and 28 per cent experience high blood pressure. Given these figures, exercising is no longer optional; it is essential for our health. Therefore, I commend NBC and all involved for organizing such impactful sporting events—well done!” he expressed.

Dr Biteko also urged the Dodoma regional leadership to officially recognize the NBC Dodoma Marathon as a key tourism attraction, emphasizing its potential to stimulate the local economy through an influx of visitors drawn to the event.

Earlier, during his remarks, Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports Prof Paramagamba Kabudi praised NBC for its significant contributions to the nation’s sports sector. He noted that the prestige of the NBC Dodoma Marathon creates opportunities for authorities to select talented athletes to represent Tanzania in international competitions, including the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

Mr. Theobald Sabi, Managing Director of NBC, revealed that 400 million shillings of the funds raised will be allocated to support initiatives such as strengthening the fight against cervical cancer, expanding midwifery support to 200 midwives, and starting a program to educate 100 nurses for children with autism in Tanzania.

At the ceremony, Mr Sabi, alongside Dr Biteko, presented checks derived from the marathon. A total of 200m/- was awarded to the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation to enhance midwifery support, 100m/- was donated to the Ocean Road Cancer Institute to combat cervical cancer, and another 100m/- was provided to AMREF Health Africa for autism initiatives.

“This success reflects our commitment as a bank to lead efforts in supporting the communities we serve. I also wish to express my gratitude to the various stakeholders who came together to make this marathon a success, particularly our main sponsor, GSM Group, along with other crucial sponsors like Sanlam Insurance, Vodacom Tanzania, TBL, and Jubilee Allianz” Mr. Sabi said.

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In the competitive races, Kenyan athlete Moses Mengich claimed first place in the men’s 42 km marathon with a time of 2:12:56, closely followed by compatriot Kipyeko Naman at 2:13:25. In the women’s category, Joy Kemuma from Kenya won first place with a time of 2:31:57, with fellow Kenyan Jacinta Chepkoech finishing behind her at 2:33:56.

The top ten finishers in the marathon received cash prizes, with first place winners in the 42 km category taking home 11.5m/- each, while second-place finishers received 5m/-, along with shopping vouchers.

In the men’s 21 km race, Tanzanian athlete Felix Simbu secured first place with a finish time of 1:32:45, followed by countryman Boay Maganga at 1:33:25. In the women’s division, Hamida Mussa won with a time of 1:48:52, just ahead of Judith Cherono, who completed the race in 1:49:00.

Each first-place winner in the 21 km race received 5.5m/-, while second-place finishers took home 2.5m/-.

Along with the cash prize totaling 82m/-, winners also received shopping vouchers from event sponsors, with GSM Group providing 4m/- worth of vouchers for the 10 km winners, while Sketchers awarded shopping vouchers to the winners of the 42 km and 21 km races.