Writing about the controversy—and scandal—surrounding the Beijing Half Marathon on Sunday, TIME magazine said: “It was a dramatic, film-worthy display of sportsmanship—or cheating, depending on how you see it.” It was a story that managed to briefly knock the boiling politics of the Middle East—following Iran’s launch of missile and drone attacks on Israel on the weekend—off the top trending slot on social media.
Kenyan runners Willy Mnangat and Robert Keter and Ethiopia’s Dejene Hailu Bikila were swept up in a social media storm after footage of the end of the race showed them slowing down to let China’s home hero and Asian Games marathon gold medallist He Jie win.
As the group drew towards the Finish, He began to slip behind. Noticing this, the three East African runners slowed down, allowing He to catch up with them, and then waved him on. Allegations of race fixing followed not too long afterwards, and the Chinese race organisers have launched an investigation.
Mnangat has spoken out, at first saying he helped He because the Chinese athlete was “his friend”, but later changed his story and said he was there as a pacemaker in the race. However, media reports say an official document from the event shows the race result with Bikila, Keter and Mnangat in second, third and fourth place, respectively, and all of them listed as competitors.
Reciprocal diplomacy
Some good Africans have suggested it was reciprocal diplomacy: Letting He win as gratitude to China for all its support for building African roads, railways and trade for the past 20 years. To many though, it was a shameful spectacle. The East African trio might as well have carried He (who didn’t show the slightest hint of embarrassment) legs first across the finish line.
As we wait for the results of the investigation, the incident yet again has spotlighted game/match-fixing and cheating in sports. A quick internet search will yield a very impressive history of sports cheating, dating back to the 1870s—from boxers falling to the canvas before they are hit to disgraceful game-fixing in baseball.
It all tells us that there is a big market out there for losing and coming second and third. The losers and those who throw away games can sometimes make more than the winner. That is because game fixing is driven by betting, where you make the biggest money if you win after betting on the less likely result.
If a sensational two-time record-breaking Kenyan marathoner (call him Festo Cheptei) enters a race, most punters will bet on him winning—and he most likely will. The pot will be shared among the many who will bet on that outcome.
Obscure barefoot runner
However, if you bet that an obscure barefoot runner from Mbuji-Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo called Antoine Lingomba, who is running in an international marathon for the first time, will take the day, you are likely to be the only one doing so.
Should he win, it will be a big payday for you as you will pocket most of the money from the many who lost (it’s an oversimplified and slightly inaccurate picture of how betting works, but you get the picture). Because there is so much to be made in losing than in winning, the greater incentive is for Cheptei to throw away the race.
There have been Kenyan commentators in the past who have argued that so much long-distance running talent is coming out of the country that there is little room for them at the top. However, the opportunities for them are at the bottom. In things like letting the Hes of this world win a run which is not one of the world’s great high-stakes races like the Boston, London or Berlin marathons.
There is also a market for it when politics and sports mix. Burundi’s late President Pierre Nkurunziza loved to play football but he wasn’t the country’s best footballer. Somebody was arrested for tackling him too hard on the field during a game. Sensible goalkeepers knew what to do when the President got off a shot toward the goalpost: They jumped left if he kicked the ball left.
Uganda’s 1970s military dictator Idi Amin was big, very big, on all sorts of sports: Basketball, swimming, boxing, motor rallying…. But he was mostly hopeless at them all. He swam at 45-degree angles. During motor rallying, leading drivers would be tipped off when he was coming and they would park their cars in the bush, out of sight, and only come out after he had driven past.
And there is a lot of money to be made in throwing away political races. In many parts of Africa these days, some candidates enter elections, even the presidency, so that they can be bought off, especially if they are hugely popular in select areas. As soon as they draw big crowds, it is likely that the incumbent governor, member of Parliament or president will panic and offer them a deal they can’t refuse.
The best fellows, however, do it in style. The next time Mnangat helps a friend, maybe he shouldn’t wave him by.
Mr Onyango-Obbo is a journalist, writer and curator of the “Wall of Great Africans”. @cobbo3
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Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
EXIM Bank to raise 300m/- over the next three years for financing essential services and infrastructure upgrades in mental health facilities.
The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
Britam half-year net profit hits Sh2bn on higher investment income
Insurer and financial services provider Britam posted a 22.5 percent jump in net earnings for the half-year ended June 2024, to Sh2 billion, buoyed by increased investment income.
The rise in half-year net profit from Sh1.64 billion posted in a similar period last year came on the back of net investment income rising 2.5 times to Sh13.27 billion from Sh5.3 billion.
“We are confident in the growth and performance trend that Britam has achieved, supported by its subsidiaries in Kenya and the region. Our business is expanding its revenue base while effectively managing costs,” Britam Chief Executive Officer Tom Gitogo said.
“Our customer-centric approach is fueling growth in our customer base and product uptake, particularly through micro-insurance, partnerships, and digital channels.”
The investment income growth was fueled by interest and dividend income rising 34 percent to Sh9.1 billion, which the insurer attributed to growth in revenue and the gains from the realignment of the group’s investment portfolio.
Britam also booked a Sh3.79 billion gain on financial assets at a fair value, compared with a Sh1.8 billion loss posted in a similar period last year.
The increased investment income helped offset the 12.7 percent decline in net insurance service result to Sh2.13 billion in the wake of claims paid out rising at a faster pace than that of premiums received.
Britam said insurance revenue, which is money from written premiums, increased to Sh17.8 billion from Sh16.6 billion, primarily driven by growth in the Kenya insurance business and regional general insurance businesses, which contributed 30 percent of the revenue.
The group has a presence in seven countries in Africa namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Britam’s insurance service expense hit Sh13.6 billion from Sh11.3 billion, while net insurance finance expenses rose 2.6 times to Sh12.3 billion during the same period.
“Net insurance finance expenses increased mainly due to growth in interest cost for the deposit administration business driven by better investment performance. This has also been impacted by a decline in the yield curve, which has led to an increase in the insurance contract liabilities. The increase has been offset by a matching increase in fair value gain on assets,” said Britam.
Britam’s growth in profit is in line with that of other Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed insurers, which have seen a rise in profits.
Jubilee Holdings net profit in the six months increased by 22.7 percent to Sh2.5 billion on increased income from insurance, helping the insurer maintain Sh2 per share interim dividend.
CIC Insurance Group posted a 0.64 percent rise in net profit to Sh709.99 million in the same period as net earnings of Liberty Kenya nearly tripled to Sh632 million from Sh213 million, while Sanlam Kenya emerged from a loss to post a Sh282.2 million net profit.
