Inaugural Samora Machel marathon set for September
30 Aug 2025
A marathon in honour of the late former president of Mozambique Dr Samora Machel, was launched yesterday and its first edition is set for September 27 in Lobatse.
The Samora Machel Compatriot Marathon is the brainchild of Tebogo Mothudi, a member of the Kgaboesele family that housed Dr Machel during his stay in Lobatse while fighting for the independence of his country.
The marathon's launch was held at the Samora Machel Museum and attended by Lobatse District leadership, officials from the Ministry for International Relations, and members of the business community.
The event’s manager, Letsweletse Moshabi pointed that the objective of the marathon was to honor the long standing historical ties between Botswana and Mozambique.
Moshabi further said it was aimed to celebrate the legacy of Dr Machel who led his nation in the liberation struggle for independence from Portugal in 1975 and spent some time in Lobatse while on his way to Tanzania.
The marathon, he said, was also being organised as part of Lobatse economic revitalisation initiative through sports.
Moshabi said the marathon would showcase prime Lobatse heritage sites with emphasis on the role that the town had played in the liberation struggle in the region.
He highlighted that the event, which was being supported by the Samora Machel family, Mozambique High Commission, Business Botswana, local authorities, and Botswana Athletics Association, would start as fun run activity this year and begin to charge athletes next year.
“We encourage different running clubs, athletes and community members to register for free this year. We will start it as a fun run this year due to pending logistics with Botswana Athletics Association," he said.
He further divulged that after the marathon activity, there would be an intercultural festival on the same day at Lobatse Town Park to celebrate the birthday of the late Samora Moisés Machel, who was born on September 29, 1933.
Thereafter, he said as part of corporate social responsibility, on September 29, there would be a donation to the orphaned, vulnerable and needy members of the community with the assistance of Lobatse Town Council.
"We will then have an intercultural festival, where we will require one to buy a P100 standard ticket, or a P200 VIP ticket,” Moshabi said.
He emphasised that the festival would allocate free stalls for Lobatse small micro and medium enterprises in order to boost Lobatse economy.
Moshabi said the Samora Machel Museum which was commissioned on April 14, 2022 in Lobatse, bore testimony to the two countries long-standing historical ties of struggles against political and cultural bondage and the upholding of shared values and principles of democracy. Dr Machel died on October 19, 1986 in a plane crash. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Calviniah Kgautlhe
Location : Lobatse
Event : Launch
Date : 30 Aug 2025
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