Majwe Mining is looking to pedal the cycling wave to change the lives of the marginalised and less fortunate people within the Jwaneng mine Zone of Influence.
On Wednesday, the mining company announced its plans to go ahead with its long-awaited inaugural Albert Milton 570km Charitable Cycle Challenge. Known by its acronym Majwe-AM570, the race was previously slated for April this year but had to be postponed when the coronavirus pandemic hit Botswana.
The inaugural charitable race honors the memory of the late Debswana Mine Managing Director Albert Milton and will have his widow Albertina and Majwe Mining Director Rod Dixon as its host cyclists.
“The duo are seasoned cyclists who have partaken in international, national and charity activities,” Majwe Mining Deputy Director Caster Mothibedi revealed at the race launch.
As the late Milton was an avid cyclist and a charitable individual, the challenge is expected to be a fitting tribute that will continue his and Majwe mining’s charitable endeavours. Mothibedi stated that from the proceeds of the 570km event, they intend to empower young females and support educational attendance through the issuance of sustainable sanitary items.
Other objectives include the procurement of bedding for boarding schools and orphanages, development and establishment of a citizen owned company to develop and distribute sustainable sanitary items for the needy and also raising awareness among the youth on issues of gender-based violence in schools.
On her part, Majwe Mining Communications Coordinator Gaone Mogae said the organisers have invited the first lady Neo Masisi as the guest cyclist.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the organisers have limited the number of the charitable race’s participants to only 50 cyclists.
To adhere to the set Covid-19 prevention protocols, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has been engaged to provide mass inter-zonal permit for all participants.
“72 hours prior to the event, all participants will undergo the Covid-19 test and release the results to the MoH Director. Finally, the cyclists will also test post the event and release those results to the director,” she narrated.
The cycle challenge will commence on the 3rd December until 5th December, 2020 and will be done in three phases.
On the first day, the cyclists will ride from Gaborone to Mahalapye where they are expected to spend a night. For the second lap the following day, the participants will return back to Gaborone and spend a night before proceeding to Jwaneng for the third and final lap of 570km.
Commenting on the event, Milton’s widow Albertinah expressed gratitude for the positive feedback the race received from corporate teams, adding that all participants are ready.
She reiterated that the challenge will be a fitting tribute in memory of her late husband who she said loved giving back to the community and cycling.
Milton also thanked the various sponsors for their generosity, adding that they made the event possible.
The sponsors include Majwe Mining, Komatsu, Barloworld Equipment, Sandvik, Thiess, BOCRA, Aeci, Bothakga Burrow Botswana, DTCB, BOMAID, Miltha, Kamoso Distributors, Cresta Hotels, Mega Mining, Ultimate Cycle Base, Emergency Assist 991, Patmomellinium Point (Diamond Café), Hydrate , Classic Intel, Sunday Standard, The Botswana Guardian, The Patriot, Duma Fm and Rb2 FM.
