The music programme will culminate in Jah Prayzah’s performance, supported by additional entertainment and live DJs
By Dickson Bandera
Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) is putting final preparations in place for the inaugural Nyanga Mountain Valley Marathon and Music Festival, as the hospitality group seeks to combine sport, music, wellness and tourism into a major attraction in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands.
The event, scheduled for 26 September 2026, will be held under the theme “Run. Breath. Celebrate.” and will feature 3km Fun Run, 5km, 10km and 21km Half Marathon categories, alongside a music festival headlined by award-winning Zimbabwean musician Jah Prayzah.
RTG Corporate Affairs and Quality Manager Pride Khumbula said preparations were progressing well, with the company concentrating on race routes, participant support, hospitality and the overall visitor experience.
“Preparations for the Nyanga Mountain Valley Marathon and Music Festival are progressing well, and we are focused on ensuring that every aspect of the experience is ready for participants when they arrive,” Khumbula said.
She said the event was designed not only to attract runners but also to encourage visitors to explore Nyanga and the wider Eastern Highlands.
“The Nyanga Mountain Valley Marathon and Music Festival is about creating an experience that brings people together through sport, wellness, music and tourism,” she said.
The marathon’s shorter distances are expected to appeal to families, casual runners and participants who prefer walking, while the 21km Half Marathon will provide a more demanding challenge through Nyanga’s highland terrain and elevation changes.
The organisers are also using the music component to expand the event’s appeal beyond the running community.
Gateway Stream Media Manager Elton Kurima said Jah Prayzah’s headline performance was intended to turn the event into a broader weekend tourism and entertainment experience.
“The idea was to build a complete weekend experience where sport and entertainment complement each other,” Kurima said.
“For runners, the concert becomes an opportunity to celebrate after the race. For people who are not necessarily interested in running, the music festival provides a reason to come to Nyanga and be part of the experience.”
The music programme will culminate in Jah Prayzah’s performance, supported by additional entertainment and live DJs.
RTG is also offering accommodation and travel options for participants and festivalgoers, with the company positioning the event as an opportunity for visitors to spend more time in the Eastern Highlands rather than simply attending the race.
The group said the marathon is intended to contribute to the opening up of the Eastern Highlands as a year-round tourism destination, drawing visitors to its alpine landscapes and eco-tourism attractions.
RTG also plans to make the event an annual fixture and eventually develop it into a full 42km marathon, with the longer-term ambition of creating a race that can qualify runners for major international events such as the Comrades Marathon in South Africa.
The inaugural event has attracted corporate backing, with Pacific Breeze coming on board as the title sponsor. Other supporting partners include Stanbic Bank, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Musarvunda Menthol, Montclair Resort & Conference Centre, Heritage Expeditions Africa, Colourmart Solutions, Aqua Sure, Colcom, Pastons Crents, Morefresh and Defined Media.
Music concert tickets are currently priced at US$10 for early-bird standard and US$20 for early-bird VIP, while Phase 1 tickets are US$15 for standard and US$30 for VIP.
Marathon registration is being conducted online through Gateway Stream, while accommodation enquiries can be made through RTG reservations.
The event comes as RTG continues to strengthen its tourism offering in the Eastern Highlands through its Montclair Resort & Conference Hotel, which underwent a US$2 million refurbishment completed in July 2026.
The refurbishment modernised guestrooms, bathrooms, public areas, utilities and guest technology, while increasing the hotel’s room stock from 85 to 110 through the optimisation of underutilised spaces.
RTG said the investment forms part of its broader strategy to improve its hospitality products and develop integrated tourism experiences that combine accommodation, travel, leisure and destination activities.
The group operates seven hotels with a combined room stock of 979 in Harare, Bulawayo, Kadoma, Victoria Falls and the Eastern Highlands.
Through its tour operations arm, Heritage Expeditions Africa, RTG also provides destination management, transport, transfers, itinerary development and tourism experiences, including game drives, quad biking, boat cruises and mountain biking.
The Nyanga Mountain Valley Marathon and Music Festival therefore represents more than a sporting event, with RTG seeking to use the gathering to showcase Nyanga as a destination where visitors can combine outdoor recreation, entertainment, hospitality and tourism.
