Newsday
By Brian Nkiwane
2 June 2011
THREE-TIME Comrades Marathon champion Stephen Muzhingi will be feted like a King after President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai agreed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to honour the sporting icon.
Muzhingi’s exploits in the Comrades Marathon were discussed at length at a Cabinet meeting and Mugabe and Tsvangirai were of the same thinking that the Masvingo-born athlete should be honoured.
It is understood that Muzhingi is set to be given a diplomatic passport and cash at a State function to be graced by the two political leaders. The date for the function is yet to be set.
Sports Minister David Coltart told a media conference on Wednesdaythat Muzhingi would be honoured by the State.
“For the first time, both President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai agreed to one cause, that is organising a special reception for the Comrades Marathon three-time winner.
“President Mugabe said he was pleased to hear that Muzhingi had managed to defend the title he won twice in 2009 and 2010.
“The reception will present Muzhingi a chance to meet the two leaders, a dream set to become true for Muzhingi.
“It was then agreed in the cabinet that the Finance minister (Tendai Biti) was going to ascertain how much the government of Zimbabwe was going to present to Muzhingi in a reception that will be held in the city on dates to be announced,†Coltart said.
Indeed it will be a dream come true for Muzhingi as he was once quoted saying that he was dreaming of having a cup of tea with President Mugabe or Morgan Tsvangirai.
According to Coltart, he has been in talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs to present Muzhingi with a diplomatic passport “like any other super star in Zimbabwe”.
Paralympic champion Elliot Mujaji, Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry and recently, Big Brother Africa housemate Munya Chidzonga, have all been honoured by President Mugabe.
Muzhingi said he was humbled to be honoured by the State.
“At one time South African promoters tried to persuade me to change my citizenship, but I said no. In 2010 when I won it for the second time, the South African media asked me, ‘What did you get from the Zimbabwean government?’ I was quick to tell them I got a farm because they thought they could help in the bid to make me change my citizenship,†Muzhingi said.
Muzhingi was not honoured by the State in 2009 and 2010.
Muzhingi followed up his two down-run victories with an up-run victory in the 86th running of the Comrades from Durban to Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. With his win, he became the first man in 23 years to claim the title in three successive years.
The last man to achieve the feat was Bruce Fordyce, known as “the Comrades Kingâ€, who won the race eight times in a row, from 1981 to 1988, then sat out 1989 before returning in 1990 to add his ninth and last win.
Muzhingi crossed the finishing line in five hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds to record a comfortable victory over South Africa’s Fanie Matshipa, who came fourth last year.