The annual Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke, a charity cycling event launched by YA FM in 2016, is set to take cyclists on a 320-kilometer ride through the heart of Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke region. The tour, established to support the Gifted Children Foundation, aims to raise funds for academically talented but underprivileged children, providing educational support from primary through tertiary levels.
To date, 105 students have benefitted from the program, with assistance covering tuition fees and essential educational needs. Cyclists are encouraged to identify gifted learners in their own communities, fostering a unique, community-driven support system.
The tour spans three days and is divided into three segments—each named after prominent mining companies along the route. The Zimplats lap takes cyclists from Selous to Kwekwe, where they rest at King Solomon’s Hotel. The Unki lap covers the stretch from Kwekwe to Unki Mine, followed by the final Mimosa lap from Shurugwi to Zvishavane. Participants will ride through major towns, including Chegutu, Kadoma, Gweru, and Shurugwi, creating a visible presence as they travel through each area.
Veteran cyclist Wilson Dube and pioneer cyclist Nkust have been appointed as ambassadors for this year’s event. In addition to promoting wellness and charity, the tour has opened up employment and empowerment opportunities for local communities along the route. Cyclists and organizers are also able to connect participants with authorities to explore career opportunities, especially in the mining sector, which prominently supports the tour.
As an additional safety measure, cyclists will be escorted by police and ambulances throughout the route. Key activation points, including stops at OK Chegutu, OK Kadoma, OK Kwekwe, and Nedbank branches in Gweru and Zvishavane, will offer wellness sessions and community engagement activities. Water stations have been set up at strategic points to ensure cyclists stay hydrated, with a support car on standby to dispense water when needed.
The Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke is not just a cycling event but a movement, bringing together sponsors, cyclists, and crew in a shared mission to empower Zimbabwe’s youth and foster wellness and opportunity along one of the country’s most significant routes.
