Majaliwa leads NBC Dodoma Marathon pparticipants, 300ml- raised to save mothers, children

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa today led over 12,000 participants in the NBC Dodoma Marathon at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma

DODOMA: Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa today led over 12,000 participants in the NBC Dodoma Marathon at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, while commending the organisers, National Bank of Commerce (NBC), for successfully raising a total of 300ml/- to save the lives of mothers and children in the health realm.

The marathon, which attracted runners from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, saw fierce competition across the 10km, 21km, and 42km races. Prime Minister Majaliwa led various national and institutional leaders in the 5km event, emphasizing the government’s support for initiatives that promote active lifestyles and combat non-communicable diseases.

Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony for the winners and various stakeholders of the marathon, Mr Majaliwa, while applauding NBC Bank for their achievements, expressed his appreciation for the significant increase in the number of participants in the marathon from 1,500 participants in 2020 to 8,000 registered participants this year.

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He stated that this reflects a strong awakening among citizens to participate in sports, which will help combat noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease

“The contribution of NBC Bank in uplifting the sports sector in the country is evident, as they have allocated over 36bn/- to support various sports sponsorships,” Majaliwa said while adding: “Through this Marathon, they have managed to raise 300m/-this year alone, which will be directed towards various health efforts to save the lives of mothers and children.”

Equally, he praised the bank’s actions, noting that they align President Samia Suluhu Suluhu’s vision of strengthening the healthcare sector.

He called on other private and public institutions to follow NBC’s footprints in creating more sporting events to promote citizen health and achieve social development goals.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports, Mr. Hamis Mwinjuma, echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiment, stating that the NBC Dodoma Marathon provides an opportunity for the authorities to identify potential national representatives for international competitions, including the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

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On his part, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, stated that the collected amount of 300m/- from the marathon will be directed towards achieving the goals of the marathon, which include raising funds to support the fight against cervical cancer in collaboration with the Ocean Road Cancer Institute, as well as providing education sponsorship for midwives through the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation.

“Furthermore, a portion of the funds will be directed towards the construction of an operating room for patients at Muhimbili National Hospital. These achievements are driven by our commitment to be at the forefront of supporting the community we serve. I also extend my thanks to various stakeholders who contributed to the success of the marathon, including Sanlam Insurance Company, the main sponsors of the marathon, along with Vodacom, the sponsors of the 21km race, and all other sponsors who supported us,” he said.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa (in glasses) presents a cheque of 11.5m/- to Tanzanian athlete Angelina Yumba after she emerged as the first-place winner in the 42-kilometer NBC Dodoma Marathon held in Dodoma, today.

In the marathon, Ugandan athlete Akanswa Mingichi emerged victorious in the men’s 42 km race, crossing the finish line in 2 hours and 13 minutes.

Kenyan athlete Eyenali Paul finished second with a time of 2 hours and 14 minutes.

In the women’s category, Angelina Yumba of the host country Tanzania was the first to complete the full marathon, clocking in at 2 hours and 33 minutes, followed by Chopsiriri Tufena from Kenya, who finished in 2 hours and 34 minutes.

The winners of the 42-kilometer race received a cash prize of 11.5 million Tanzanian shillings (Tsh) and sports equipment, while the runners-up were awarded 5 million (Tsh) and sports equipment, for both male and female categories.

In the 21-kilometer half-marathon, Kenyan athlete Peter Mwangi emerged victorious with a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 23 seconds, followed by Joseph Panga from Tanzania, who finished in 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 35 seconds. In the women’s half-marathon, Sarah Makera was the first to cross the line, with a time of 2 hours and 10 minutes, while Suzana Chembui from Kenya came in second, finishing in 1 hour and 11 minutes.

The winners of the 21-kilometer race received a cash prize of 5.5 million (Tsh) and sports equipment, while the runners-up were awarded 2.5 million (Tsh) and sports equipment, for both male and female categories.