• FIRST Lady Esther Lungu (right), Sports Minister Vincent Mwale (centre) and Lafarge chief executive officer Emmanuel Rigaux visit Lusaka business man and Unza student Nicholas Chibwe at Lusaka Trust Hospital. Chibwe was hit by a car during the Larfarge Marathon in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE

By GWEN CHIPASULA –

ZAMBIA National Service (ZNS) runners Mathews Mutanya and Mercy Kalunga yesterday dominated the 42 kilometres Lafarge Lusaka Marathon race winning the men and women’s races respectively.
In the men’s race, Mutanya emerged champion after timing two hours and 20 minutes to walk away with a US$1,200. But despite his spirited run, Mutanya could sadly not beat Jordan Chipangamo’s record set last year of two hours and 13minutes.
Caphas Maumbi of Green Buffaloes came out second to pocket US$900 ahead of club-mate Macmillan Mwansa who finished third to get US$ 750 and was followed by Edward Mwale from Red Arrows in fourth position who got US$ 500, as Bernard Bwalya from Zambia Air Force (ZAF) finished fifth to get US$300.
Kalunga was the fastest in the womens event and pocketed US$600 as Namakando Namakando of ZAF finished second to also get US$600 with Nwazi Nyirenda from Lafarge finishing third to go home with US$400.
Edward Mwanza won the men’s 10 kilometre race to get US$600 as second place went to Moono Mukombwe of ZNS who pocketed US$ 500, Paul Ngulube of Buffalos got US$ 400, Chisangano Mwetha US$ 300 while fifth position went to Arnold Mainga who got US$200.
Felistus Chitoshi of Green Eagles won the women’s 10 kilometres category and was followed by Joséline Kaleya from Zambia Sugar and Abigail Mwila of ZNS to get US$ 600, US$500 and US$ 400 respectively.
Meanwhile, Lusaka businessman and University of Zambia (UNZA) student, Nicholas Chibwe, who was part of the runners sustained injuries when he was hit by a vehicle during the race.
Chibwe, who has since been admitted to Lusaka Trust Hopsital, was visited by First Lady Esther Lungu, Sports Minister Vincent Mwale and Lafarge Cement chief executive officer Emmanuel Rigaux.
Earlier, the First Lady expressed happiness with the way the event was organised especially that it was open to everyone and not just the professional runners.
“My hope in future is to see that even older persons enticed to take part in the marathon and persons with disabilities should be involved so that they too can participate in such health improving activities,” she said.
She called on the Ministry of Sports to partner with the private sector to ensure more events of such nature are promoted.
Mwale said the marathon is important event because his ministry has prioritised sports development as an important catalyst for development.
The Minister said government’s expectations were that the Lafarge Lusaka Marathon will grow to gold medal standing and start attracting athletes from all over the world.
He thanked Lafarge for considering this partnership with the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) not only as means of helping the needy in society but also as a way of promoting good health among corporate leaders.
ZAAA vice president Golden Chenda said the event was designed to promote wellness and raise the spirit and values of the marathon in the country.
Chenda said he was happy that the marathon had a greater number of participants this time around as compared to last year’s when they had 385 individuals and five companies.
He said it was ZAAA’s wish to see to it that the marathon grows to meet the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) standards and attract international participants.
Rigaux said the company will continue to work with its partners to ensure success of the marathon every year.  Also in attendance were Sports permanent secretary Agnes Musunga and Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) chairperson Mwamba Kalenga.