Athletes, who performed well at last Saturday’s Mount Mulanje Porters’ Race, have vowed to outdo each other in today’s Ku Chawe Mountain Race in Zomba.
The Sunbird Tourism-sponsored 21-kilometre race begins and ends at Zomba Gymkhana Club.
Participants will run up the mountain, U-turn at the historical Ku Chawe Inn perched on top of the Zomba Plateau, before returning to the club.
Charles Musowa, who was pushed to the second position after dominating the Porters’ Race for three consecutive years, has since vowed to exact revenge on Leo Chikhwaza who beat him to the finishing line by a marginal two minutes.
“I know I can make up for the two minutes gap. I will do my best to outclass Chikhwaza in Zomba. I want to get back to the top,” Musowa said.
Chikhwaza himself admitted that Musowa was still a threat to him.
The race will have a new champion this year as Stuart Banda, who won last year, is out of the country, thereby giving a chance to other runners such as Francis Khanje, Happy Ndacha Mcherenje, Abina Chinga and Mike Tebulo.
The ladies’ category is likely to feature athletes such as Tereza Master, Nalicy Chirwa and Cecilia Mhango. Veteran runners are also expected to compete.
Athletics Association of Malawi General Secretary, Frank Chitembeya, said the race was open to all runners, including those who competed in Mulanje.
“The Zomba and Mulanje events are half-marathons. So, a week’s rest is enough for the runners. We would not have allowed them to come to Zomba if the Mulanje event was a full-marathon,” Chitembeya explained.
Early this month, Sunbird Ku Chawe General Manager, Sylvester Mtambo, announced that sponsorship for the showpiece had been hiked by over 50 percent.
“We believe that as a company, we have a duty to promote tourism in the country,” he said.
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