The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporters —
FIRST Lady Amai Dr Grace Mugabe has commended the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe organisers for coming up with initiatives that empower the girl-child.
Amai Mugabe was guest of honour at the re-branded Miss Tourism Zimbabwe beauty pageant that was held last Friday night at the Harare International Conference Centre. Bulawayo contestant Ashley Morgan was crowned queen.
Nonhlanhla Dube emerged the first princess and Miss Agro Tourism while Shirley-Ann Lindsey, the second princess, is also the Miss City Tourism. The First Lady congratulated all the contestants.
“I wish to extend my hearty congratulations to our esteemed contestants who have made it this far. To earn a place in this kind of event is no mean achievement,” she said.
“That you are our finalists today speaks volumes and is clear testimony that you managed to distinguish yourself as true fighters in the field of modelling.
“We are confident of your solid representation of Zimbabwe as a country, proud of its cultural diversity. I urge you to stand tall and be exemplary in your chosen career,” said Amai Mugabe.
“This year’s Miss Tourism is looking for a young lady who can be a true Zimbabwean ambassador in every way possible.
“We want the Miss Tourism winner to be an inspiration to every Zimbabwean girl and apart from proving her intelligence, the winner must also be an advocate of philanthropic work. Beauty should be used for positive social and economic development. The winner should make the world see that if they have not been to Zimbabwe, they have not been to Africa.”
The First Lady contributed US$20 000 towards prizes that saw each finalist walking away with at least US$1 000. The queen, Morgan, got US$20 000, a car and other prizes.
Dube scooped US$10 000 while Lindsy got US$5 000. Other categories included the Miss Tourism personality and Facebook People’s choice award which went to Memory Chapinduka and Ashley Morgan respectively, who each received US$2 500.
Amai Mugabe encouraged players in the tourism industry to come up with events that are not only entertaining but can also help boost the economy.
“His Excellency in the 2015 address to the nation identified tourism as one of the sectors that should work to add value to economic trajectory,” she said.
“Tourism, which accounts for 10 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, is one of the country’s key ministries that sustains and anchors the country’s economy.
“Government is therefore committed to revamp the tourism sector through meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Dr Walter Mzembi said the country appreciates the work that Amai Mugabe is doing to empower the girl child.
“You have a purpose to serve many and you have protected the girl child and that can only be a divine assignment,” he said.
“These girls are here because they escaped the vagaries of child exploitation and I am happy there are over 6 000 people here tonight celebrating the girl child,” he said.
Miss Tourism Zimbabwe patron Mrs Barbara Mzembi said she is using the pageant to protect the girl child as well as encourage them to dream big.
The pageant is also embarking on an initiative to provide sanitary pads to underprivileged students. Performances by South African stars Dr Malinga and Busiswa, Ammara and Chengeto Brown as well as Tammy Moyo added flair to the event.
Dr Malinga’s hit “Via Orlando” got the crowd into a frenzy and his brief but stellar get-down moment with the First Lady left a lasting memory.
Among other dignitaries was Her Royal Highness, Princess Corinna Zu Sayn Wittgenstein Sayn from Germany, ministers Miriam Chikukwa (Harare Provincial Affairs), Eunice Sandi Moyo (Bulawayo Provincial Affairs) and deputy minister of Tourism and Hospitality Anastasia Ndlovu.
