Nedbank Great Dyke tour targets international status

Sydney Mubaiwa
MIDLANDS BUREAU CHIEF

ZVISHAVANE – Organisers of the just ended three–day Tour de Great Dyke cycling event are optimistic about turning the event into an international festival.
Nedbank secretary Farai Sithole said the event has grown every year since its inception in 2016 and should turn international.
“We are happy to see this cycling event growing annually. We decided to be part of the Tour de Great Dyke seven years ago. We would like to applaud other organisers and sponsors for continuing to support the event bringing together miners from the Great Dyke region. Certainly, we want it to become an international event. We want to have international cyclists,” he said.
The cycling event is organized by Nedbank and platinum mining companies such as Unki, Mimosa and Zimplats.
Other sponsors of this year’s event include Cimas, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, Econet Wireless, Nyaradzo, Simbisa Brands, Exide Batteries, Sterling Hotels, Dandemutande, Pote Holdings and Midlands State University.
This year’s edition kicked off on Thursday at Zimplats Complex in Norton. The professional and amateur cyclists then covered over 300 kilometres passing through Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, and Shurugwi and ended in Zvishavane on Saturday.
Among the cyclists was Juliet Chasi (13), a Form 1 pupil at the Great Archivers in Harare and Wilson Dube (82) from Chivi who worked at Shabanie Mine for 37 years.
Mashonaland West Minister of State Marian Chombo also called on organisers to turn the event international in her speech at the beginning of the tour at Zimplats complex.
“We are happy with this development and we are also optimistic that this event will grow and become an international event.”
“This cycling event again fills an excellent need for fitness and wellness. It dovetails with the Government’s quest to promote wellness and healthy living for all citizens,” she said.
It has been learnt that, to date, the Foundation has supported students at various levels from primary to tertiary education.
Tour de Great Dyke also seeks to raise awareness of the investment opportunities in the 550km long, 12km wide Great Dyke geological complex.