Vodacom’s “Twende Butiama” cycling tour honours Nyerere’s legacy with action
Some of the participants in the “Twende Butiama” cycling event are pictured arriving in Butiama, Mara Region, during the final leg of the symbolic ride to honor the legacy of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. Photo by Beldina Nyakeke
What you need to know:
- Vodacom’s "Twende Butiama" tour honored Nyerere’s legacy through a 1,500km ride, promoting self-reliance, health, and education, reaching 250,000 people with healthcare and aiding schools and special needs children.
Butiama. Tanzanians have been urged to uphold the philosophy of self-reliance championed by the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, by translating it into action in their daily lives.
The call made today July 13,2025 during the conclusion of Vodacom Tanzania PLC’s annual "Twende Butiama" cycling event, which reached Butiama in Mara Region after a 10-day ride spanning over 1,500 kilometres across 11 regions.
Now in its eighth edition, the tour has evolved into more than just a patriotic journey. It combines symbolic tribute with tangible impact through community interventions in education, health, sanitation, environmental conservation, and youth empowerment.
Vodacom’s Director of Information Technology, Mr Athumani Mlinga, said the cycling event promotes national unity, patriotism, and community health, while amplifying Nyerere’s enduring values.
“For eight consecutive years, we have used this platform not just to ride, but to reach out,” said Mr Mlinga. “Nyerere’s ideals, particularly self-reliance, are more relevant than ever. This tour brings people together to reflect and act on those principles.”
This year’s tour began on July 3, 2025, and included a range of outreach activities conducted in collaboration with partners in the education, health, and environmental sectors.
In education, desks were donated to nine primary schools, benefiting approximately 15,000 pupils, while 562 support items—including bicycles and mattresses—were handed over to children with special needs.
On the health front, over 250,000 people accessed free medical check-ups, with a focus on non-communicable diseases, at mobile clinics set up along the route.
Mwalimu Nyerere’s son and family spokesperson, Mr Madaraka Nyerere, praised the initiative as a living tribute to his father’s legacy of service.
“This tour does not end with the ride. It leaves behind assistive devices, builds latrines, and carries forward the message of Mwalimu. That is truly commendable,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the riders, Frank Lawrence called on youth to embrace bicycles not just as a sport, but as a sustainable and healthy alternative to motor vehicles.
“Cycling improves health and also speaks to Nyerere’s teachings of simplicity, responsibility, and care for the environment,” he said.
The event concluded with a symbolic gathering at Mwalimu Nyerere’s home village, where participants pledged to continue advancing his legacy through practical change in their communities.
