Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE 2026 Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke tour director Nobuhle Mahlahla is spearheading efforts to broaden the sporting and social impact of the Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke, with this year’s edition combining a three-day cycling challenge with community empowerment and the celebration of Zimbabwe’s mineral heritage.
The 2026 edition gets underway tomorrow with cyclists setting off from Zimplats’ Selous Metallurgical Complex for a three-day journey running until 7 November.
The annual event brings together cycling enthusiasts, corporate partners and mining industry players, using sport as a platform to promote wellness, tourism and community development along Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich Great Dyke.
Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Caleb Makwiranzou is expected to be the Guest of Honour at the official kick-off ceremony.
Mahlahla said the tour had grown beyond a sporting competition into an initiative that connects the country’s natural resources with opportunities for communities, particularly gifted children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“The Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke has grown beyond a cycling event into a platform for celebrating the Great Dyke and the people, industries and communities that define it.
“We want participants and audiences to appreciate that this geological corridor represents much more than mineral extraction. It is about opportunity and supporting talented but underprivileged children for lasting social impact,” said Mahlahla.
This year’s programme will also feature the launch of The Great Dyke Book: Beyond the Rock, authored by Minex chairperson Munyaradzi Hwengwere, at King Solomon Hotel in Kwekwe tomorrow evening.
The publication explores the geological, mineral, historical, economic, environmental and tourism significance of the 550-kilometre Great Dyke.
Mahlahla said the book launch would add an important knowledge-sharing dimension to the cycling event.
“The launch of The Great Dyke Book: Beyond the Rock is one of the major highlights of this year’s tour. It complements the cycling experience by documenting the history, geology, economic significance and wider opportunities of the Great Dyke.
“We are particularly pleased that the book is being launched during the tour, creating an opportunity to celebrate both the physical landscape and the knowledge behind its significance,” she said.
Beyond the sporting challenge, the tour retains a strong charitable purpose, with proceeds from the event and book sales supporting the Gifted Children Foundation.
The foundation has so far assisted 157 talented but underprivileged children, helping them access opportunities to develop their abilities and pursue their ambitions.
“At the heart of this initiative is the belief that we must create opportunities for others. The Gifted Children Foundation gives the tour a meaningful social purpose. We are proud that part of the proceeds will support children whose talents deserve to be nurtured, regardless of their economic circumstances,” Mahlahla said.
Through the annual cycling event, Mahlahla and her partners are seeking to ensure that the Great Dyke is celebrated not only for its mineral wealth but also for its sporting, tourism and community development potential.
