The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
BAOBAB Primary School, the new finishing point for the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon has been given a facelift ahead of the return of the hugely popular race to be held in the resort city on 3 July.
Over the years, the Victoria Falls Primary School has been the finishing point for the popular race, which is still starting in front of Kingdom Hotel.
Baobab Primary School toilet basins after renovations
The marathon did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but is making a return this year, with a change in the finish site together with some tweaking of the route.
Organisers have decided to renovate Baobab Primary School, an institution officially opened in August 1968, giving it a new lease of life by carrying out renovations to the school’s toilets while the fields are also being cleared ahead of the race.
Baobab Primary School toilet basins before renovations
According to Vanessa Williamson, one of the VFM organisers of Victoria Falls Marathon, the renovations to the 11 toilet block and a urinal were carried out at a cost of US$3 000.
Vanessa Williamson with some of the Baobab Primary School learners outside the renovated toilets
The process involved painting, replacing 11 doors for the cubicles, installing new toilet seats and tiles.
Now that the renovations have been done, Williamson indicated that they are looking to assist the school, which has 27 teachers in its other areas of need.
“The field is being cleaned up for the finish, we have renovated the toilet block, it has 11 toilets and a large urinal that was finished two days ago.
Baobab Primary School toilets before renovations
They took about two weeks to complete the job. Now as the Victoria Falls Marathon, we are trying to raise funds for the school, they need a number of textbooks, 10 children are sharing a textbook so we are trying to see to it that each child has at least a textbook, that will help with learning,’’ Williamson said.
Furthermore, the school situated on Dale Crescent off West Drive, which has 670 learners is in need of computers for teachers as well as a shower to be used by children when they finish sporting activities.
An appeal has been sent to hoteliers who will be accommodating athletes during this year’s marathon to donate US$1 for each night towards the school project.
Baobab Primary School toilets after renovations
“They need computers for the staff and they are also trying to build a shower block for the children to use after they finish sport.
We are appealing to athletes, corporates and anyone who wants to help.
We have also asked everyone in Victoria Falls who owns a lodge or hotel to donate US$1 per person per night during the marathon, it’s a small amount that will go a long way,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, last Friday, About 1 800 had entered the four different races and closing for registration, which is entirely being done online, is midnight 19 June.
Baobab Primary School urinal after renovations
Collection will be done from Thursday 30 June up until a day before the race.
Athletes have to bring proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test.
Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North provinces have a combined 160 free slots with 110 taken up so far while 50 are still up for grabs.
Organisers are targeting 4 000, with registration to close once that number has been reached, even if that happens before 19 June.
Baobab Primary School urinal before renovations
Before the advent of Covid-19, the Victoria Falls Marathon, for years sponsored by telecommunications company Econet Wireless was the country’s biggest athletics event.
Besides a new finishing point which has been done to help other areas of the Victoria Falls community, there has also been some tweaking of the route to avoid high traffic areas.
