By Godwin Semunyu
My late mother, Odilia, taught me a simple but enduring lesson: when someone moves your heart, you don't just feel grateful—you say thank you. And after what we witnessed at the NBC Dodoma Marathon 2025, I must say this from the depths of our hearts: Asanteni sana.
To every runner, volunteer, partner, and supporter who made it possible—you didn't just show up, you stood up. You reminded us that not all superheroes wear capes; some wear running shoes, carry water bottles, and show up to run for something greater than themselves. Humanity.
I must admit, when the idea of registering 12,000 runners was first floated, it felt ambitious. Just last year, we had 8,000. In 2020, we began with less than 3,000. The growth was real, but it didn't fully sink in—until Sunday morning, 27 July 2025.
Standing on the podium at Jamhuri Stadium as the sun rose over Dodoma, I looked out and saw it for myself. A sea of 12,000+ people—stretching, laughing, warming up. An ocean of purpose. It clicked. These weren't just numbers. These were 12,000 people who answered the call. The call to be human. The call to save lives.
Through your footsteps, dear runners and partners, you raised TZS 700 million for causes that matter. But you also created something far greater than a race. You created a marathon of hope. Hope for women bravely battling cervical cancer. Hope for mothers in remote villages, now reached by trained midwives. Hope for families raising autistic children, now finding support and understanding. You are the real MVP.
Together, we ran for a mother in Morogoro, a child in Songea, and a nurse in Pemba who now feels seen. This marathon was their story of courage—But your story of solidarity. As the Good Book says: Blessed is the hand that giveth. And boy, you gave.
When Honorable Dotto Biteko, Deputy Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, and other national leaders joined us, it wasn't just protocol. It was a statement. A statement of collaboration, compassion, and commitment to progress. In unison.
As one of my greatest African authors, Chinua Achebe, once wrote: "When we gather in the moonlight at the village ground, it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so. Alone, I can smile, but together, we can laugh. Alone, I can enjoy, but together we can celebrate. Alone, I can talk, but together we can speak. Alone is a voice, while together is a force." This was not just an event. It was a force.
Our corporate partners—GSM, Sanlam, Tanzania Breweries, Wasafi Media, Vodacom, Jubilee, Toyota, and many others—didn't just sponsor.
They stood shoulder-to-shoulder with purpose. Because purpose isn't a slogan. It's a promise—to build trust, invest in people, and serve the soul of our nation. We remain grateful.
Let it be known—this is not the end. It's the beginning of a greater mission: one of deeper partnerships, stronger communities, improved livelihoods, and lasting impact for Mama Tanzania.
To everyone who showed up and was counted in Dodoma—thank you. Thank you for proving that when purpose calls, Tanzanians answer.
You didn't just run—you stood for something. You gave breath to hope and strength to lives unseen. And as long as there is a cause worth fighting for, a life worth saving, or a dream worth lifting—this marathon will never end. The Marathon continues.
See you on Sunday, 26 July 2026. Insha’Allah.
Godwin Semunyu
Head of Corporate Affairs, NBC Bank.
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