Staff Writer
Zimbabwean music star Jah Prayzah is set to headline the Mountain Valley Marathon and Music Festival after-party at Montclair Resort & Conference Centre in Nyanga on September 26, as organisers count down to the inaugural event that seeks to combine sport, music, wellness and tourism in the Eastern Highlands.
With just a few days remaining before the event, organisers are encouraging fans and marathon participants to secure their tickets early ahead of an expected increase in prices.
The Mountain Valley Marathon is being staged as a full-day destination experience, with participants taking part in a series of races before the programme culminates in an evening music festival featuring Jah Prayzah and other entertainment. The event is being held under the theme “Run. Breathe. Celebrate.”
The sporting programme includes a 3km Fun Run, 5km race, 10km race and the main 21km Half Marathon, providing options for families, casual runners, walkers and more experienced athletes.
The organisers say the concept goes beyond conventional road racing by using sport as a platform to encourage visitors to explore Nyanga’s scenic mountain landscape and the wider Eastern Highlands.
Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG), which is involved in the event, says the marathon is intended to bring together sport, wellness, music and tourism while encouraging visitors to spend more time in the destination.
RTG Corporate Affairs and Quality Manager Pride Khumbula said preparations were progressing well, with organisers concentrating on race routes, participant support, hospitality and the overall visitor experience.
“The Nyanga Mountain Valley Marathon and Music Festival is about creating an experience that brings people together through sport, wellness, music and tourism,” Khumbula said.
Gateway Stream Media Manager Elton Kurima said the music component was deliberately incorporated to broaden the event’s appeal beyond the running community.
“The idea was to build a complete weekend experience where sport and entertainment complement each other,” Kurima said.
“For runners, the concert becomes an opportunity to celebrate after the race. For people who are not necessarily interested in running, the music festival provides a reason to come to Nyanga and be part of the experience.”
Jah Prayzah’s headline performance is therefore expected to provide the entertainment highlight of the day, giving runners an opportunity to celebrate after completing their respective races while attracting music lovers who may not participate in the marathon.
The event also forms part of efforts to promote Nyanga as a year-round tourism destination. Organisers are positioning the marathon as an opportunity for visitors to combine outdoor recreation with accommodation, sightseeing, adventure activities and entertainment in the Eastern Highlands.
The inaugural event has attracted corporate backing, with Pacific Breeze serving as title sponsor. Other supporting partners include Stanbic Bank, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Musarvunda Menthol, Montclair Resort & Conference Centre and Heritage Expeditions Africa, among others.
Organisers have also indicated that they want the marathon to become an annual fixture, with longer-term plans to introduce a full 42km marathon and grow the event into a major regional sporting and tourism attraction.
For music lovers, early-bird concert tickets are currently priced at US$10 for General Access and US$20 for VIP access. Tickets are available online through Gateway Stream, while physical tickets are being sold at Booties Pharmacy outlets in Harare, Marondera and Mutare, Med Orange Pharmacy in Harare, Crown Pharmacy in Mutare and Montclair Resort.
The official event platform lists the marathon registration at US$20, while return coach transport from Harare is also available for visitors travelling to Nyanga for the event.
With Jah Prayzah leading the evening entertainment and the marathon providing the sporting centrepiece, organisers are billing the September 26 gathering as an opportunity for visitors to experience Nyanga through running, music, hospitality and tourism in one weekend.