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By Chimeno Azriel
The 2021 edition of the premier cycling event, Tour deGreat Dyke which kicked off last Thursday and finished off on Saturday was a success with the cyclists finishing off in high spirit.
The tour kicked off from Zimplats Complex in Selous and finished in Zvishavane with all the cyclists finishing well despite the excessive heat.
The Cycling event was organised by YAfm and the race took three days on the pedals and the cyclists covered around 500 kilometers which saw them passing through Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Gweru, Shurugwi, and Zvishavane where the race ended.
Around 60 cyclists registered for the event and according to the organisers, the event was aimed at promoting the wellness and fitness of the mining workers. From the registered cyclists, most of them were drawn from the mining sector with some drawn from all over the country.
Running under the theme “RIDING FOR RESILIENCE”, the race was also aiming at supporting the needs of the gifted children who are underprivileged to acquire education.
Ya FM Head of Marketing Tsitsi Florence Naurama said the event was well prepared and the cyclists were in a jovial mood.
“Preparations were done well and the race was divided into three laps with the first lap being from Selous running up to Kwekwe and the second lap took the cyclist to Shurugwi and then they embarked on the last lap to Zvishavane,” said Naurama.
Launched in 2016, Tour deGreat Dyke’s aim is to create awareness of the investment opportunities on the Great Dyke Geological Complex. Ya FM took the initiative to help the gifted children who are underprivileged and living along the great Dyke to acquire education.
“Proceeds from the race will be used to support the charitable needs of the Gifted Children Foundation in Zvishavane which will assist underprivileged but brilliant students along the Great Dyke to acquire decent education,” said Naurama.
To date, the Foundation has supported over 100 students at various levels from primary to tertiary education.
Chairman of Ya FM, Mr. Munyaradzi Hwengwere said YAfm was there to help to promote wellness as well as to maintain fitness among mining workers where cyclists cycled around 500 kilometers across the country. He said around US$4.4 billion comes from the mining sector with US$2. 8 billion coming from the Great Dyke.
He sai Ya FM has come to popularise the companies through wellness and fitness as well as to raise funds for the underprivileged students.
“This cycling event which is in its fourth year aims at popularising the Great Dyke companies as well as to maintain the fitness and wellness of the mining workers and to help the gifted but less privileged students to achieve their education dreams,” said Mr. Hwengwere.
” The Great Dyke Tour creates awareness of the investment opportunities in the Great Dyke Geological Complex which is home to the major mines such as Zimplats, Zimasco, Afrochine, Unki, and Mimosa,” he said.
Among the cyclists was a 79-year-old who showed no sign of tiredness. The endurance race was supported by Chloride Zimbabwe, Zimplats, Mimosa, Unki, NMB, FBC, Dandemutande, and Original Technology among other companies.