81-year-old takes part in all Tour de Great Dyke events

Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
The sixth edition of the Tour de Great Dyke, a once popular cycling event, has made a return after a Covid-19-induced hiatus and with it, a worthier cause.

The three-day event kicked off in Selous on Thursday last week with 62 cycling participants, among them an 81-year-old and four women, and ended in Zvishavane on Saturday.

62 participants kicked off the event at the starting point but the number of participants grew to more than 100 as more joined the race along the way.

Participants were drawn from across the country with one female rider coming from Polokwane, South Africa.

For 81-year-old Wilson Boka, Tour de Great Dyke came as a relief for him as he had been craving for a race.

Born in 1942, in Zvishavane, the pensioner has been cycling since 1965 under Shabanie Mine and has taken part in all the six Tour de Great Dyke events. He looks forward to taking part in four more events before retiring.

“I have 8 children and 22 grandchildren but I still feel like I’m 20. In fact, I’m not even doing my best because this is a race and we’re doing it for charity but otherwise I could’ve beaten them all,” Boka told journalists during a stopover in Kwekwe.

For Boka, cycling has lost its lustre in Zimbabwe mainly due to lack of sponsorship.

“I started cycling under Shabanie and we would attend cycling events like the Mhangura Chamber of Mines. The company would sponsor everything from bicycles to attire. Back then, companies would also construct facilities with cycle tracks which we used to train, but now, there’s no such thing. Cycling has lost its lustre and we’re calling upon sponsors to revive the sport,” he said.

He praised organisers of Tour de Great Dyke saying it was the only event which recognised cycling as an event.

The event was divided into three laps, namely the 120-kilometre Zimplats lap from Selous to Kwekwe, the second one —  another 120-kilometre Unki lap from Kwekwe to Shurugwi and the final Mimosa lap from Shurugwi to Zvishavane which is about 80 kilometres. The event is meant raise awareness on environmental issues as well as bring wellness to employees employed by mining companies.

Proceeds generated from the event are donated to learners with special needs dotted around the Great Dyke.

The event is organised by YA FM in partnership with mining giants such as Mimosa Mine and Zimplats as well as organisations including Nedbank, CIMAS, Vigilant Resources and Exide Batteries among others.

Tour de Great Dyke chairman, Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere said the tour was anchored on three main objectives; charity, wellness and environment consciousness.

“The Great Dyke is one of the world’s largest mineral resources but the place is not well marketed. It stretches from Mashonaland West right across the Midlands province but not everyone in there is enjoying the fruits. So, the event is meant to market the Great Dyke and emphasizes on ensuring that vulnerable people there benefit first from the mineral resources,” he said.

Turning to wellness, Mr Hwengwere said the event was meant to promote good health among mining workers.

“We’re saying mining companies should take good care of people who extract the minerals. When mining also, people should be taking good care of the environment and do away with environmentally damaging mining methods,” he said.

Mr Hwengwere said mining companies should give back to the community.

“We have vulnerable children from schools across the dyke, some who can’t afford paying tuition fees, yet they’re on top of minerals. We’re saying those few who are privileged to be mining should be able to help others. We have more than 100 children whom we’re paying tuition fees for under the Gifted Children Foundation, which is a brainchild of this tour,” he said.

The tour is expected to play a major role in the tourism sector as people will also get to know resort places dotted across the Great Dyke.