By Ketshepile More
RUSTENBURG – Thirty cyclists from three Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) Member States of Botswana, South Africa and Namibia yesterday started the 1 800km Cycling for the Corridor cycle tour from Rustenburg, South Africa, to Walvis Bay, Namibia.
The cycling event, which started at Rustenburg , is part of the commemoration activities of the Trans Kalahari Corridor 20th anniversary. Riders from the three member countries will pedal the TKC for the next two weeks until April 28. From Rustenburg the cyclist will head on to the N4 road to Zeerust where they will spend a night before cycling to Botswana through Lobatse.
During the cycling tour, the TKC Corridor Management Institute (TKCMI) will conduct information sessions and stakeholder engagements in all the member states, and later in the year a TKC Handbook detailing achievements of the organisation, as well as opportunities for investment along the corridor would be launched.
Botswana Cycling Association (BCA) has sent 10 cyclists from their affiliate clubs. The objective of this initiative amongst others is to obtain member states’ commitment to the economic development through spatial development initiatives along the TKC, to promote road safety on the TKC in line with the UN Second Decade of Action for Road Safety and the African Union Safety Charter. In an interview TKC Secretariat Executive Director Leslie Mpofu said they opted to use cycling to mark the commemoration because cycling was regarded as a sustainable transport.
He said cyclists were best placed to influence the public on non-motorised transport, road safety as well as healthy living, which was key for the promotion of road safety and trade facilitation. “Also, cycling as a sport and for endurance is always a crowd puller. And a corridor does not benefit much if it is only a transport corridor,” Mpofu said adding that there was need to transform it to a developmental or economic corridor through development initiatives.
Mpofu said these would create the much-needed employment, either formal or informal employment. BCA Secretary General, Game Mompe said this was a rare opportunity for their cyclists as they would get a chance to ride through three countries in an enduring event that requires them to ride long distances for days.
“The participation contributes to BCA’s mandate to promote cycling, and the event is also of national significance as it brings together three countries through the sport of cycling, which is a way of boosting sport tourism in the region,” Mompe said.
The TKC Corridor Management Institute was established in 2003, through a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by the three member states.
BOPA
