Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa yesterday Sunday led more than 12,000 participants of the NBC Dodoma Marathon held at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma while congratulating the organizers of the race, the National Commercial Bank (NBC) for successfully collecting Shs 300 million that will be directed to save life of mother and child.
In the race that involved participants from inside and outside the country, it was witnessed that participants from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda competed fiercely by emerging as winners in different races, especially those of 10 km, 21 km and 42 km. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa led various leaders including national and leaders of various institutions and organizations that participated in the 5 KM race.
Speaking at the ceremony to hand over prizes to the winners and various stakeholders of the race, the Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, in addition to congratulating NBC bank for the success, expressed his reaction to the large increase in the participants of the race from 1,500 participants in 2020 to 8,000 registered participants officially participating in the race this year.
He said that this move is a sign of greater awareness of the people to participate in sports, a move that will help in dealing with non-communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease.
“NBC Bank's contribution to the development of the sports sector in the country is very clear where they have allocated more than 36 billion in the sponsorship of various sports including football.
“Through this athletics game apart from stimulating the awareness of the relevant game in the community, for this year alone they have managed to collect funds amounting to 300 million shs which will be directed to achieve various health efforts through the basic agenda to save the lives of mothers and children…congratulations to NBC, ” he congratulated.
He said the bank's action supports the government's efforts through President Samia Suluhu's desire to strengthen the health sector in the country.
He called on various private and public institutions to ensure that they design various sporting events so that they can be used to build the health of the people in parallel with achieving various social agendas.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, while congratulating the bank for being a major stakeholder in the sports sector in this country through its various efforts, said the size of the NBC Dodoma Marathon competition provides opportunities for the authorities that manage the game to use the various winners found in the race to represent the nation in various international competitions including the Olympic and Commonwealth competitions.
On his part, the CEO of NBC Bank, Theobald Sabi, said that the amount of Sh300 million collected through the race will be directed towards achieving the goals of the race, which is to raise funds to support the fight against cervical cancer in collaboration with the Ocean Cancer Institute. Road as well as providing educational funding for midwives through the Benjamin Mkapa Institute, the main objective of which is to improve the health of the mother of the child.
“Furthermore, part of this money will be directed towards the successful construction of an operating room at the Muhimbili National Hospital. This success is fueled by our commitment as a bank to be at the forefront of helping the community we serve.
“I also congratulate the various stakeholders who came forward to make the race a success, including the Sanlam Insurance Company who are the main sponsors of the race along with the Vodacom communications company who sponsored the 21 km race along with all the other sponsors who supported us,” he said.
In the race, an athlete from Uganda, Akanswa Mingichi emerged as the first winner of the 42 km race (Full Marathon) on the men's side after spending 2 hours and 13 minutes followed by Athlete Eyenali Paul from Kenya who spent 2 hours and minutes 14 while on the women's side, the race witnessed Angelina Yumba emerging as the first winner after spending 2 hours and 33 minutes followed by Chopsiriri Tufena from Kenya who spent 2 hours and 34 minutes.
The first winners in the 42 km race walked away with a cash prize of Shs 11.5 million and sports equipment for both sexes while the second winners walked away with Shs five million and sports equipment for both sexes.
In terms of the men's 21 km race, an athlete from Kenya, Peter Mwangi emerged as the first winner after using a time of 1:2:23 followed by an athlete Joseph Panga from Tanzania who used a time of 1:02:35 while on the side of women, the race witnessed Sarah Makera emerging as the first winner after spending 2 hours and 10 minutes followed by Suzana Chembui from Kenya who spent 1 hour and 11 minutes.
The first winners in the 21 km race walked away with a cash prize of Tsh 5.5 million and sports equipment for both genders while the second winners walked away with Tsh 2.5 million and sports equipment for both sexes.
