Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
SOUTH Africa-based Zimbabwean cyclist Meli Ndlovu has cited that they experienced a myriad of challenges when they engaged in a taxing 865-kilometre Bicycle Ride from Midrand in South Africa to Bulawayo all in a bid to create awareness on drug and substance abuse that is destroying communities in Zimbabwe.
After leaving South Africa last Monday, Ndlovu and fellow rider Roland Dube arrived in the City of Kings and Queens last Wednesday evening.
Initially, Ndlovu was in the company of Dube and Pressmore Musundi and they were accompanied by six other cyclists along the Johannesburg to Bulawayo highway before reaching the Musina/Beitbridge border.
The cyclists started the journey as a trio but unfortunately, the other rider Musundi was unable to go full length after experiencing cramps and a problem with one of his hands.
For Dube, this was his first attempt to endure the challenging journey while Ndlovu has done that on several times with the most famous being his 2021 expedition when he claimed to have completed the trip in 48 hours.
While Ndlovu said he was happy to have gone the distance yet again, he underscored that they had to overcome some obstacles.
“This time around the message was on preaching the word against drug abuse. At the beginning we were three but one of us Pressmore had a challenge in Musina and from there he had to board a taxi to Bulawayo. He experienced cramps and a problem with his hand. He could not continue. It’s understandable because this was his first time attempting to do this. The major challenge was the heat. It was just too much. There were heavy winds as well at times but we managed. We also had a challenge in Makhado where the road is being spruced up. As such, we had to ride on gravel which was another obstacle but still we overcame,” said Ndlovu.
In the process of explaining why they took long to reach their destiny, Ndlovu revealed that chances are between slim and none that he was going to take up the challenge next year.
“This time we were lucky not to encounter wildlife. We were delayed because we left a bit later than usual. l normally leave at 3.30am for this journey but someone kept me waiting and we left South Africa late at 7am. Plus we took a long time trying to get Pressmore through the border and make sure he was okay. It’s quite a long journey. Next year l won’t be available but Roland and other guys will carry over and make this an annual journey,” he said.
Ndlovu became well-known when he made claims to have cycled from Midrand, South Africa to Bulawayo in less than two days two years ago. The claims sparked debate about whether it is possible to cycle such a distance in those hours.
The feat became a subject of debate on social media platforms, with some disputing Ndlovu’s claim that he left Midrand on Saturday at around 3 am and reached Bulawayo on Monday at around 1pm.
Ndlovu, at that time, said he was cycling at an average speed of 40km to 45km per hour on the South African side and 21km to 25km/hour on the Zimbabwe side because of the damaged roads which meant he had to constantly give way to trucks.
Last year, he embarked on a similar journey and it took him three days to arrive in Bulawayo. — @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter