JM Busha to sponsor 54 Races for Peace and Unity in Africa
JOBURG - Joseph Makamba Busha has a vision for peace and unity on the African continent.
Visionary Zimbabwean businessman Joseph Makamba Busha, founder of the JM Busha Investment Group in Dunkeld, Johannesburg, is organising three races to be run in Africa as part of Africa Day commemorations.
The Busha group is also the official sponsor of Alexandra’s Bluebirds Ladies Football Club which plies its trade in the Sasol Women’s League, and it also sponsors a southern African regional women’s football tournament which takes place in Alexandra.
At a time when the world seems at odds with itself, Busha has challenged Africa to lead the way when it comes to peace and unity on the continent. Known as the JM Busha 54 Races for Peace and Unity, they will ultimately be run in 54 countries and all on Africa Day, but in this inaugural race year, the first of these races will take place in Zimbabwe on 25 May, the second in Johannesburg on 28 May and a third will take place in Kenya later in the year.
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Busha told Alex News that the project was a citizen-driven initiative with the aim of encouraging individuals to take responsibility for peace, and grow the peace movement on the African continent.
He said the objective of the 54 races was threefold; to educate people and promote peace through sport; to engage and enroll individuals and institutions to actively promote and pledge peace, unity, accountability and responsibility at all levels of society, within organisations, and governments; and to raise money for the AU (African Unity) for peacekeeping missions, mediation efforts and crisis management in Africa.
From a logistical perspective, Busha said he aimed to form partnerships with the different stakeholders in each country, including local government, sports clubs, churches and civil society organisations to facilitate the organisation of the races.
Race ambassadors – key individuals who will reflect the message of the 54 races – and student ambassadors would play a strong role in the development and promotion of the race in their respective countries, he said.
Through a student ambassador programme, Busha will incentivise students to develop solutions to problems in their own countries with prize money available for the winning solution.
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“Our vision [as a company] is to build peace in Africa and the entire world thereafter. How do we try to create the good society that we all seek? How do we as a people live together in our diversity and make sure we do not escalate the misunderstanding and inequality that exists across the globe?” Busha questioned.
He has partnered with the City of Johannesburg and Central Gauteng Athletics for the Johannesburg race known as the National Peace Pledge Marathon, which will be hosted at Rand Stadium.
It will be a family event and there will be a distance for everyone such as 5km, 21km and a 42km marathon.
Details: 011 844 0410; info@entrytime.com; www.jmbusha54.com
Edited by Allan Robertson
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