The Sunday News
Rumbidzai Mbewe, Business Reporter
THE Government has said there is a need to intensify initiatives that help market the Great Dyke region so as to reap the benefits of the mineral rich mining belt in the country.
Speaking at the launch of Zvishavane based radio station, YaFM’s initiative, Tour De Dyke, at the Zimplats Complex last week, Sports and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane compared the Great Dyke area to South Africa’s Kimberly saying the resource rich belt should be tapped to the advantage of the economy.
Minister Hlongwane said every country has an area that becomes the anchor of development, adding that the Great Dyke region was one such area for Zimbabwe.
He said creating awareness of the Great Dyke was imperative in harnessing investment in the area for development purposes.
“The Great Dyke is the most resource rich area and it is important for Zimbabweans to interact and know what minerals it possesses. There is a lot of untapped potential here which should be harnessed. As a developing country with such resources, all we have to do is know how we deploy this natural geological feature to our advantage,” said Minister Hlongwane.
Speaking on the cycling event initiated by YaFm to raise awareness on the dyke, Minister Hlongwane said there were synergies between sport and mining as sport was a platform for exchanging money.
“Cycling is the most efficient way of spreading this awareness as it is clean and promotes good health. It helps to strengthen the body and have a healthy mind to reduce risks,” he said.
He commended the involvement of mining giants like Unki, Mimosa and Zimplats that have partnered with YaFM to promote the region saying their efforts would go a long way in developing the area.
YaFM chairman Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere reiterated the minister’s sentiments saying popularising such activities was one way of letting people know about the wealth they possess.
Mr Hwengwere said people living near the Great Dyke area were living along one of the richest mineral belts in the country yet they were some of the poorest as they do not know how to take advantage of what they have.
“Some people are sitting on riches but they do not have an idea about it at all. Let us impact knowledge to everyone about the riches they have in their areas so that it is used to benefit not only them but the country as a whole as we build our economy,” he said.
Mr Hwengwere said as part of the station’s first anniversary celebrations, YaFM has taken upon itself to give back to the community that has supported its existence, mainly the miners and their families, by creating awareness through cycling more than 220km from the Zimplats Complex to the Mimosa Complex through areas like Kadoma and Kwekwe.
“I am very much excited about this tour because we are the first to hold such a big tour in Africa,” said Mr Hwengwere adding that, “the Tour De Great Dyke has so many activities lined up in different cities for miners.”
@rumbie_mbewe
