Biteko to grace Rombo Marathon & Ndafu Festival

ARUSHA: DEPUTY Prime Minister, Dotto Biteko is expected to flag off the 2023 annual Rombo Marathon and Ndafu Festival to be staged in Rombo District of Kilimanjaro Region.

Over 1,000 athletes have confirmed participation in the event that is scheduled to take place on the 23rd of December.

According to the event Coordinator, Temy Isidori, the starting and ending point is the Rongai Forest Sports Grounds with the race culminating with a mouth-watering meal of traditionally grilled goat meat, popularly known in the area as ‘Ndafu.’

Organised by Rombo Sports Agency, the second edition of the Rombo Marathon, apart from targeting to promote sports and tourism, it is also used to fundraise for development purposes in the district.

The organisers have unveiled that in this year’s event the money generated will be used for rehabilitation of the Huruma Designated District Hospital and construction of modern toilet facilities for primary and secondary schools in the district.

In the inaugural Rombo Marathon held in December 2022, a total of 540 athletes took part in the Kilimanjaro Forest.

As it is the norm during the Christmas and New Year Holidays, when most Kilimanjaro-born citizens travel back to their home villages, and the event aims to attract most of these returning as well as cultural leisure vacationers.

As they get to celebrate the festivities with respective members of their families, the Marathon will also give them a side event consisting of sports, forest trekking tourism, and traditional ‘ndafu,’ barbecue.

Organisers believe that the Marathon should also serve as an active well-being fitness platform and meeting point.

The winners of the event which involves Half Marathon 21 km race for men and women the category will be awarded cash prizes and medals, as for the first winners of the Half Marathon will earn 1m/- for both categories.

Whereas the first and second runners-up will be awarded 700,000/- and 500,000/- each and the fourth slot winners will earn 300,000/- respectively.

Fifth winners will be given 200,000/- each and from there the sixth to tenth finishers are to be given 100,000/- per person and category.

For the trail run, which covers 10 kilometres, the first winners get 500,000/- each, for both men and women categories. Second runners get 300,000/- each, third finishers 200,000/- each, and fourth to fifth winners are to pocket 100,000/- per person.

There will also be trail runs for children and seniors and are all to be awarded cash prizes and medals.