The Kansanshi Marathon is increasingly emerging as one of Solwezi’s most impactful community-driven initiatives, evolving beyond a sporting event into a platform that promotes healthy living, social inclusion, economic empowerment, and community wellbeing.

Organised by Kansanshi Mining PLC in partnership with First Quantum Minerals (FQM), the marathon has steadily grown into a major annual event that encourages physical fitness while helping address growing health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and stroke—conditions that continue to affect many communities across Zambia.

Through sport, wellness campaigns, and community participation, Kansanshi Mining and FQM are championing preventative healthcare by encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles and embrace regular physical activity.

According to Kansanshi Mining PLC Public Relations Manager, Ryan Ellis, who has been instrumental in driving the marathon and other sporting programmes, the event is already transforming fitness culture within Solwezi.

Ellis explained that when he previously travelled to Lusaka, it was common to see residents exercising and jogging early in the morning, something that was once less visible in Solwezi.

“When I’d drive through Lusaka, I would see people running as early as four or five in the morning. But when I returned to Solwezi, you rarely saw that. Today, it is encouraging to see people embracing fitness and running regularly. These initiatives are clearly making a real difference,” Ellis said.

Over the years, the marathon has become more than a race, developing into a broader platform for promoting wellness and community participation among people of all ages and backgrounds.

A major highlight of this year’s event was its continued emphasis on accessibility and inclusion. The marathon recorded increased participation from persons living with disabilities, reinforcing the organisers’ commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone to take part.

To support inclusive participation, First Quantum Minerals provided specially customised wheelchairs to differently abled athletes, allowing them to compete along the same route as other runners and ensuring no participant was excluded from the experience.

The move was widely praised as an important step toward promoting equality, dignity, and representation in community sporting activities.

Supporting the health and fitness aspect of the marathon was Justin Bwalya, Physiotherapist and Fitness and Rehabilitation Coordinator at Kansanshi Mine, who led aerobics and warm-up sessions while educating participants about the importance of physical wellness and exercise.

Bwalya noted that FQM has continued investing in community wellness initiatives through free aerobics sessions, fitness awareness campaigns, and inclusive sporting activities designed to make physical wellbeing more accessible to ordinary residents.

“FQM is encouraging healthier lifestyles while making physical wellbeing more accessible to ordinary community members through free aerobics sessions, fitness awareness programmes, and inclusive sporting activities,” he explained.

Beyond health benefits, the Kansanshi Marathon is also generating meaningful economic activity within Solwezi. The event continues to attract increasing numbers of visitors, athletes, supporters, and stakeholders, creating opportunities for local businesses, accommodation providers, food vendors, transport operators, and small enterprises.

Hotels and guesthouses reportedly experience high occupancy levels during the marathon period, while local traders benefit from increased customer traffic.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, commended the initiative for its growing contribution to tourism and economic development in the North-Western Province.

“Beyond the race itself, this marathon has become an economic and tourism anchor for Solwezi. Accommodation facilities are fully booked, and local businesses are thriving. This is where sport and economic development meet,” Nkandu said.

This year’s edition attracted an impressive 2,500 runners, highlighting the event’s rapid growth and increasing recognition as one of Zambia’s major community sporting events.

Ellis further emphasized First Quantum Minerals’ broader contribution to Zambia’s socio-economic development through tax contributions, infrastructure projects, and corporate social investment programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.

He revealed that FQM invested approximately US$24 million in corporate social investment programmes while also contributing half of the US$4 million Mitech dual carriageway construction project in partnership with the Government of Zambia.

From promoting healthier lifestyles and greater inclusivity to stimulating local economic activity and supporting infrastructure development, the Kansanshi Marathon continues to demonstrate the powerful role sport can play in strengthening communities.

In Solwezi, the marathon is steadily becoming more than an athletic event—it is a symbol of social transformation, inclusion, and sustainable community development, proving that sport has the power not only to inspire, but also to create lasting positive change.