THE Vodacom Tanzania has announced its partnership as the title sponsor of this year’s Twende Butiama Cycling Tour from Dar es Salaam to Mwalimu Nyerere’s birthplace, Butiama.
This 14-day cycling event, taking place from October 1st to October 14th this year, serves as a tribute to the Life and Legacy of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the founding father of the nation.
Gabriel Landa, co-founder of the Twende Butiama cycling tour, expressed his appreciation to the Vodacom Tanzania Foundation saying: “Our journey, which began in 2018, goes beyond commemorating our nation’s revered Founding Father. We’re promoting cycling—a pastime Mwalimu cherished—and championing causes close to his heart: education, environmental preservation, and health. With private sector participation and collaboration with cyclists, environmental advocates, and health professionals, our impact amplifies Mwalimu’s ethos,” said Landa.
Twende Butiama’s five-year legacy prominently highlights its environmental advocacy with successful tree-planting campaigns of over 53,000 seedlings. Furthermore, the “Changia Dawati, Tokomeza Ujinga” fundraising initiative showcases the dedication to education, facilitating the distribution of nearly 200 desks across 6 primary schools in regions such as Coast, Morogoro, Dodoma, and Mara.
Speaking during the press conference, Vodacom Tanzania Foundation Director, Zuweina Farah said “We are very proud to take up the mantle as the Twende Butiama Bicycle Tour title sponsor this year. This partnership represents more than just sponsorship; it’s a convergence of values, dedication, and a commitment to serve the Tanzanian community because during the tour we will be doing various initiatives aimed at living and commemorating Mwalimu Nyerere’s legacy”
Apart from donating to logistical support for the cyclists, the Vodacom Tanzania Foundation, will also be making an extended commitment to several key initiatives that align with their strategic transformative pillars of enhancing health services, access to quality education, and economic empowerment with a donation of over 200m/-.
“We will also join the Butiama cyclists to donate desks in public schools and plant over 4,000 trees across the regions that the bicycle tour traverses. This initiative resonates with our ambitious plan of planting 2 million trees in the country by 2030. In addition, we are partnering with Afya Checkers who are medical specialists to organise Free Medical camps in Mwanza, Bunda, and Butiama as our initiative to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Tanzania as well as making a medical equipment donation to Butiama District Hospital” said Zuweina.
On her part, Romana Malikusema, speaking on behalf of the medical professionals who will be part of the free medical camps, thanked Vodacom Tanzania Foundation for the support to make the camps a reality for the residents of Mwanza, Bunda, and Butiama.
“We are delighted to be part of the Twende Butiama Bicycle Tour honouring Mwalimu’s legacy through the provision of free medical camps.
