OVER 1,200 runners including three ministers are expected to take to the friendly and peaceful streets of Ndola on the Copperbelt this morning as they take part in the inaugural ZAFFICO Marathon.
Sports minister Elvis Nkandu, his transport counterpart Frank Tayali and Provincial minister Elisha Matambo will be putting their running skills to test with November rainy skies threatening to soak them.
The marathon, themed “Miles of Hope, Shelter of Care,” has been organised by the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) together with the Ndola Fitness Squad (NFS) to raise funds to complete a mother’s shelter at Mukutuma Rural Health Centre in Lufwanyama District.
The runners will wind through the serene roads of the Copperbelt provincial capital, where the 7.5 km and 10 km routes will offer scenic views from the clean neighbourhoods, while the 21 km and 42 km races will almost be circumbulating the town
For many rural mothers in Lufwanyama, the journey to deliver safely is often a difficult one.
Some travel several kilometres on foot to reach a health centre and end up sleeping under trees or makeshift shelters.
The planned mother’s shelter at Mukutuma will provide them with a safe, comfortable space to rest and wait for labour under medical supervision.
Roads around Ndola have been secured, with police, Road Safety and Transport Agency (RTSA) officials and medics on standby to ensure runners’ safety.
ZAFFICO, is one of Zambia’s leading forestry companies which supports major industries such as construction, mining and manufacturing through its sustainable timber production.
By George Musonda
Kalemba November 8, 2025
