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Sam Tambuli was the happiest man in the resort district of Mangochi on Saturday after he won the inaugural Mangochi Bicycle Taxi race, beating a field of 81 cyclists.
Taxi business took a backstage on this day as the cyclists took up the gruelling challenge to race 77.29km in the well catalogued heat of the district. Not surprisingly, only 54 made the round trip and finish at the starting point at Mangochi football ground.
Tambuli, who clocked 2:54:42 could not hide his happiness after collecting his first prize of a new bicycle and a promise of K10,000 account by the National Bank
“I’m very happy. I never knew I could win the race which I only heard about on yesterday (Friday). Actually at one point I was number 54 and my chain came off as well, said Tambuli, who said he has been in the bicycle taxi business for five years.
Sadiweki Mbingwani, riding ‘More Fire’ was second in 2:56:20, while Osman Milore finished in 3:00:11. They were rewarded with a new bicycle each. But the former also got K5,000 and the latter K1,000 courtesy of National Bank. On fourth place was Yasin Ali and got a Sonny radio.
The rest were given assorted consolation prizes that included bales of sugar, bicycle tyres and tubes, hampers and T-shirts sponsored.
The race, whose main organisers were Travellers Magazine and Skipco, was also sponsored by Illovo Sugar Company, Rab Processors, Unilever South East Africa, Club Makokola, Bowler Beverage Company, Southern Bottlers (Carlsberg), Population Services International, BP Malawi, Kanjedza Lodge/Kris Offset, Sun ‘n’ Sand and Cold Storage.
Information and Tourism Minister Patricia Kaliati, who presided over the prize-presentation ceremony, hailed the competition as a pioneering event, and thanked the participants, organisers and the other sponsors.
“I am very delighted this afternoon to be associated with the first ever competitive bicycle taxi race here in Mangochi. This event marks the beginning of important activities for the promotion of the bicycle as a mode of transport for both the local people and tourists,”
She said her ministry will fully back up the event next time, but urged the cyclists to form an organisation that will not only look into their problems, but will also ensure discipline is maintained so that tourists are not discouraged.
Traveller Magazine editor Andrew Wright was also all smiles.
“It’s been wonderful. It’s been a great honour to be part of this event. We can only move forward. You see, we are trying to give something back to the community in which we operate,” he said.
But what inspired them to come up with such an idea?
“It’s surprising what Malawians can do with a bicycle. The loads they carry...you don’t see that sort of thing anywhere in the world except Malawi,” he said.
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