eBusiness Weekly
Africa Moyo
Thousands of local cyclists are expected to take part in the 550km Tour de Great next Tuesday, which runs from Darwendale to Zvishavane. Veteran cyclists from the National Cycling Association and amateurs are set to take part in the tour, which is being organised by Zvishavane-based radio station, YaFM and BuyZimbabwe Campaign.
The tour is designed to raise awareness of vast potential wealth that can be extracted from the mineral rich Great Dyke.
Tour de Great Dyke is expected to start in Darwendale at Great Dyke Investments’ premises.
Great Dyke Investments is a $3 billion Russian-Zimbabwe joint venture platinum mining project.
Spokesperson for the tour, Munyaradzi Hwengwere told journalists on Tuesday this week that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and a number of mining firms have confirmed participation.
“We are going to start from Great Dyke Investments, the new baby in platinum, then we go to Zimplats and they host us. They will give us all the facilities, the ambulances, the necessary hosting,” said Hwengwere.
“The Ministry (of Mines) will be there. The Minister (Winston Chitando) said ‘I am participating’. Government is participating in this initiative.
“The tour is aimed at enhancing awareness of this very rich resource that we have in the country called the Great Dyke.”
Mining companies such as Unki, Zimplats and Mimosa, are also expected to take part and also offer support in various ways including ambulances.
The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, a private sector voluntary organisation established in 1939 by an Act of Parliament to represent the interests on miners and suppliers, is also expected to take part in the tour.
Similarly, the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), which represents about 8 000 small-scale miners, will also be there and would be one of the sponsors.
Hwengwere said they hope to transform Tour de Great Dyke into one of the much-talked about cycling events in the world.
“We think at some point in five years’ time, this will be competing with Tour de France. I am telling you, nothing stops us because we have started the journey which will contribute immensely and turn Zimbabwe into a middle income country by 2030 as espoused by the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa).
“That journey (to Vision 2030) is anchored primarily on mining. In the Great Dyke you have anything you can imagine. You have PGMS which include copper, rhodium, gold, and chrome, diamonds, you have anything you can think of.
“If we are talking about mineral wealth, you are really talking about the Great Dyke.”
Last year, Tour de Great Dyke attracted thousands of people particularly in Kwekwe.
One of the professional cyclists took 30 minutes to cycle between Kwekwe and Gweru, a distance of 66,3 kilometres.
Going forward, it is expected that the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) would be involved to promote tourist attraction centres along the Great Dyke.
In Shurugwi, for instance, the spectacular 6km Boterekwa is scenic and can be monetised if it is marketed to both local and global audiences.
Other sponsors include Metbank, TN Beverages and Zimplats.
