Meli Ndlovu's Ride

We rode from Gwanda to Bulawayo yesterday escorting Meli Ndlovu the cross border cyclist from Johannesburg on his 800KM+ activism ride against Drug and Substance abuse. This was not childsplay but above the hardnut parts of it it was quite the adventure!

This guy is big in his own right, the idea of his initiative is good enough to endorse it without asking too many questions and wondering whatnot, I first escorted him in the yesteryear and I can attest to the fact that he really puts in his efforts. There's so much scrutiny, debates and doubts around his cycling that people miss the plot; cycling from Johannesburg to Bulawayo in two days is debatable but we've got to admit he really pulls off the lion's share of the activity, but that's not what I am going to sink myself into now.

The Gwanda to Bulawayo route is a 120km stretch with an elevation rise of 950metres of mountain climbing. Now, from your floor, raise your chin up and imagine 0,9KM of height, then imagine that height expanded from the floor you stand on to a place 120KM away and you have to begin climbing from your feet all the way up for six hours. It's not cheap, but we did it, we climbed the trecherous Mbalabala hills and the merciless Danger Zone area where truck engines knock off! At some point my chiseled legs got so jello and burnt out I stopped and anticipated walking up the hill, it's true what they say group work makes the dream work, a friend soldiered and encouraged me to climb to the top. Needless to say it started smelling like grenade, smoke, gunpowder and blood as I climbed up, it was war! Mind you unlike a flat surface you can easily get the bike rolling forward but against that gradient you'd have to put in much force on the pedal otherwise you could easily roll back like a ball. It wasn't cheap and it wasn't for baby feeding, we were in military training and every weakness was tested, and, guess what? Meli Ndlovu took the pain on the chin and kept moving!

You see I have been on many rides, I've ridden to Gweru myself and I've participated in local events but I've never experienced an event such as Meli's. If one was a cycle-tourist from abroad they'd have absolutely enjoyed the pleasures of Africa to the last particle off of that ride! The weather was so gloomy on our way out to Gwanda that we braced for rains but on returning the sky suddenly opened up and we basked under the sun all the way back which preferably I enjoyed. 

Where lies the adventure were the snakes we encountered, shame to the cobra that locals stoned open out of fear, I was seeing the snake for the first time actually at my big age, Oh to be town bred! It's December and many are traveling from South Africa for holidays so there was considerable traffic and almost every car and haulage trucks gave us hie honks, some people even halted up ahead to film us. 

There was so much cordiality and ubuntu where you'd expect road rage, farmers who tilled their land on the farmlands by the roadside honked at us too from their tractors, there was so much waving of hands and raising of thumbs even the cows on the roadside moo'd at us to say "ekse gents wuzit? you want some of this grass?". Halfway through the ride a drive escort joined us, one of Meli"s patriots decided to leave work in Gwanda and organized transport and plenty of ice cold water for us, that was one of the best things out of ubuntu the man did. I don't think we'd have survived that ride without those guys, their patience to drive at a very daunting pace for an engine is highly appreciated! I know people fiscally supported Meli but the highest form of support was physical rather, to my opinion, without undermining all others of course. 

The sweetest sound I've ever heard in all of life's facets beyond cycling, were the women selling firewood and wares on the road side under a big tree who ululated (umpululu), that was very endearing and encouraging, my heart literally bopped to that sound "Yililili" and I shouted a good "Halalaa!", it was amazing, those women were many so it came out like a pleasant melody. That was the best part for me and still echoes in my ears, I've never been so proud to be African, umpululu is such a sweet symphony and hearing it whilst cycling is so random.

I don't know but I think Meli's ride should be widely honored! On approaching the city passing the Ascot robots, we arrayed ourselves abreast and therefore dominated a lane. Somehow all traffic tolerated the convoy and let us get away with it, nobody honked but all motorists followed still and calmly behind us which was surprising because I am a commute-cyclist and I know these dorks! So we sped down L Takawira past the Centenary park into the CBD, it was a grand entrance such that if it were an actual event the whole city would have gathered there to receive Meli Ndlovu. It was an absolutely amazing experience of eight cyclists, thanks to the Chronicle Newspaper who took their time to receive Meli and thanks to Ezra Tshuni who continues to show interest in this guy and his cause. 

It's just very unfortunate that this is Meli's last ride as he pursues other things but I think this should really be endorsed and event-planned by local authorities as an annual ride. I think Meli's initiative should be carved as a baton stick and handed over to our council. Meli had escorts from Johannesburg two of which (Rolan Dube and Pressmore Musundi) crossed the border with him, really tough and brave guys! And, to me, this ride could be one of the country unifying things to ever happen especially as Africans draw closer and closer to doing away with the border systems, but that's just my opinion. Nonetheless something of high consideration ought be implemented out of Meli's cause. As the City of Bulawayo and the Mayor create a cycling environment and promoting a cycling culture, it is my opinion that they gather and confer some stakeholders over an important discussion. Holding this to national level would be overambitious and moving the needle for now, but little can be done really. 

I pay my respects to Meli and everyone that supported the man including Bulawayo's respective cyclists Patrick Magigwani Mathew Russel and Nkosi Phiri of the Siyephambili Cycling Club together with the individual cyclists Thamsanqa Sibanda Farai Tembo and Armstrong Mathe, and the True Elegance restaurant who gave them a good treat and refreshments in Gwanda and also in Bulawayo. Let us keep showing up for our people and support them dearly.

There's always just one individual in a lifetime, and, we have Meli.