The Mining Industry Pension Fund (MIPF) says its maiden participation in the Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke has opened new avenues for member engagement, financial education, and community outreach along one of Zimbabwe’s most economically significant corridors.
Speaking on Ya FM’s weekly Retirement Planning Programme on Wednesday, MIPF Pensions Manager Thulani Ndlovu described the experience as both enriching and strategically valuable. He said the Tour allowed the Fund to merge its wellness initiatives with practical, on-the-ground service delivery.
“The Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke was a great opportunity for us as first-time participants. As the cyclists moved from Selous to Zvishavane, we met schools, pensioners, and families of former members. Many people needed help with their pension claims, and some didn’t even know how to start the process. So this tour really helped us assist a lot of them,” Ndlovu said.
MIPF transformed the multi-day cycling event into a mobile outreach hub, offering claim status checks, updating personal information, assisting with survivor benefit enquiries, and providing general retirement planning guidance. Ndlovu said interacting directly with members and their families brought clarity to long-standing cases and revealed information gaps that the Fund will now address through targeted education programmes.
The Great Dyke is home to thousands of workers in the mining sector, many of whom are active MIPF contributors or beneficiaries. Ndlovu said participating in the Tour helped the Fund reconnect with communities that often face limited access to pension administration services due to distance, cost, or lack of information. He noted that some of the people they met were relatives of former members who had unclaimed benefits but lacked knowledge of the procedures. Meeting them face-to-face provided reassurance and guidance many had sought for years.
Beyond pensions, MIPF’s involvement reflects its broader commitment to promoting well-being and responsible living among its members. The Tour de Great Dyke, blending sport with social impact and community engagement, provided an ideal platform for the Fund to raise awareness about financial planning, contribution tracking, retirement preparation and the importance of safeguarding beneficiary information.
Ndlovu said the positive reception from communities has motivated the Fund to participate again in future editions, with plans to bring an even stronger and more interactive presence. He described the debut as a rewarding journey of reconnection, adding that MIPF looks forward to returning next year with expanded services and deeper engagement.
