Botswana gambling authority promotes responsible play at FNB Kazungula Bridge Marathon
Staff shared information on making responsible gambling decisions, including setting personal limits and recognising signs of potential problems.
Botswana.- The Gambling Authority of Botswana participated in the FNB Kazungula Bridge Marathon on Saturday, February 28, hosting an interactive stall to engage runners and local residents on responsible gambling.
The event, held in Kazungula, marked its fifth year and drew athletes from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia among others. Organisers reported that more than 1,000 participants took part across various race categories, including the 42.2km marathon, 21.1km half marathon, 15km run and shorter distances.
The Authority’s team engaged visitors at a stall set up inside Choppies Mall. Staff shared information on making responsible gambling decisions, including setting personal limits and recognising signs of potential problems. The approach encouraged one-on-one conversations, allowing participants to connect lessons from physical fitness to everyday choices in leisure activities.
The Authority stated: “Through our interactive stall, we had meaningful conversations with marathon participants and the community about responsible gambling practices and the importance of making informed, healthy choices.”
The marathon started at President Avenue and included a unique cross-border segment over the Kazungula Bridge, where runners briefly entered Zambia near the point where four countries meet along the Zambezi River.
Zimbabwe’s Givemore Mudzinganyama won the men’s full marathon in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 10 seconds, followed closely by Namibia’s Tomas Hilifa Rainhold. Kenya’s Sheilah Jepkorir took first place in the women’s full marathon with a time of 2 hours, 52 minutes and 24 seconds.
By participating in the competition, the Authority reinforced its efforts to weave responsible gambling messages into everyday life, helping to reduce risks such as overspending or gambling-related stress. By engaging people in familiar settings, the initiative creates opportunities for continued conversations about wellbeing across Botswana’s communities.
