The Sunday Mail
Prince Mushawevato —
THE recently held Miss Tourism Zimbabwe was indeed filled with the splendor that was promised by organisers prior to the event.
Talk of a unique and well-designed stage, indoor fireworks after the crowning ceremony, a well-defined VIP section, perfect lighting and sound system, this was certainly a world class event. However, many feel the pageant did not manage to create enough zeal within ordinary citizens prior to the event.
The Miss Tourism Zimbabwe (MTZ) finale held on November 25 posed as a who-is-who event mainly because of its ticket pricing and an elitist approach that somewhat characterised preparations of the event.
Yes, the auditorium was partially full, but one could not help but notice that ordinary men and women of this nation that usually constitute the upper deck crowd of the giant HICC were not ably represented. Perhaps this was because the MTZ organisers did a few selected outreach programmes prior to the event.
Yes, we are now in the rainy season and there were fears that rains would spoil the otherwise well prepared and mouth-watering modelling event. But, it did not rain on the finale night.
And light showers or promises of rains that characterised the early hours of the day definitely cannot be used as an excuse for lack of enthusiasm by the public. Simple but vigorous event hyping techniques like roadshows would have easily helped organisers of the event win hearts of the “missing crowd”.
The MTZ organisers were supposed to set up teams, which would be tasked with visiting various locations around town/country a week or weeks before the finale, simply to conscientise the ordinary man and woman on the streets about the pageant and its mandate.
Leaving such a task to the media alone was suicidal! Organisers of the pageant tried to have last minute roadshows a day or so before the finale but it was already too late.
Miss Tourism spokesperson Alson Darikayi acknowledges one or two things could have been done better, but is still happy with the overall outcome of the November 25 pageant.
“The event happened according to plan. We managed to put a world class show in line with our set standards,” notes Darikayi.
“I’m sure we managed to give Zimbabweans an early Christmas treat despite one or two mishaps that characterised the pageant, which is normal. School children from different backgrounds were part of the event at the behest and payment of their entry fee by the anchor sponsor weeks before the event hence we feel the event was all inclusive.”
In addition, the US$10 charge for an ordinary ticket was a bit exorbitant for a national event. The fee is just too much for an ordinary Zimbabwean given the prevailing liquidity crunch.
The US$50 and US$100 charges for the VIP and VVIP made things worse as simply scared potentials away.
Revered promoter Partson Chimbodza could help with a testimony on this one. He failed to attract a decent crowd at his birthday bash held in the capital a few weeks back after opting for a similar charge for the rest of the ground.
Also, there was no need for the panel of judges and presenters to create unnecessary confusion like they did as they were about to announce the queen and her princesses.
Certainly prior communication on positioning of models at every stage of the event would have helped save the MTZ guys from the commotion that almost ensued after the last eight contestants and subsequently top three announcements.
Furthermore, many are still thus far puzzled why Samantha Tshuma, Miss Tourism 2010, was chosen as outgoing queen when Gamuchirai Kujeke was the last Carnival Queen in 2014.
Is it not that the recently held Miss Tourism Zimbabwe came into being following the re-branding of Miss Carnival early this year. According to critics, a perceived correct move would have been to use Kujeke as the outgoing queen.
Are we missing something here? Could this be a sign of bad blood between former handlers of the pageant (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority) and the current runners?
“We had to opt for Samantha as the outgoing Miss Tourism queen since she was the last Miss Tourism queen. Gamuchirai Kujeke is Miss Carnival thus even if the event has since been rebranded, she remains such (Miss Carnival).
We cannot refer to her as Miss Tourism. Perhaps if a Miss Carnival is organised in future, she will be called in to stand as the outgoing Miss Carnival,” explained the MTZ spokesperson.
Outside the few but noticeable glitches, the MTZ organisers should be commended for indeed revolutionising not only the pageantry but the overall showbiz industry. The classy act they gave certainly left a lasting memory and equally the bar was set high.
Punctuality was the order of the day. The organisers stuck to the programme as almost every episode ran in its slot that is from starting to end time. First Lady Amai Dr Grace Mugabe not only endorsed the pageant by gracing it as the guest of honour but also contributed US$20 000 towards the prizes.
In that regard, each participating finalist walked away with US$1 000 while the anchor sponsor BigTime Strategic Group chief executive Justice Maphosa pledged a year school fees for each of the last 15 finalists wherever they are studying.
And for winning the crown, Ashely Morgen got US$20 000, a car and for her People’s Choice award, she took home another US$2 500 among other prices.
First princess Nonhlanhla who was also given the Miss Agro Tourism got US$10 000 and she also won the four-year study scholarship programme in China courtesy of Sicas while second princess Shirley Ann, Miss City Tourism got US$5 000. Memory Chapinduka who was voted Miss Tourism Zimbabwe personality got US$2 500.
“We set international standards for others to follow in future. The event was beyond our expectation in terms of participation be it from the delegates that came through to the tremendous endorsement we got from the First Lady.
“MTZ is here to stay and we managed to distinguish ourselves from a number of mediocre events that are often held in this country,” adds Darikayi.
Other respectable characters that were in attendance at the glamorous event were Bona Mugabe-Chikore and her husband Simba, several ministers and other dignitaries who include Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein and royalty from Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa.
After this year’s organisational success; the big question is this all sustainable? The anchor sponsor, Justice Maphosa of BigTime Strategic Group is on record saying the sponsorship could be a once off, which naturally spells doom for next year’s installment.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority did their best to contribute to modelling but they choked, so did the Marry Chiwenga-led Miss Zimbabwe Trust, which had picked up the pageant from the dustbin. Miss Carnival has since also died a natural death. Could this be what Zimbabweans have been waiting for or is it just another flash in the pan?
