The fate of this year’s Miss Tourism Zimbabwe finals
remains unknown following the withdrawal of the pageant licence by the Zimbabwe
Tourism Authority (ZTA), amid revelations that disorder and confusion continue
to haunt the pageant.
Following the latest political developments and subsequent
firing from government of Walter Mzembi, husband to Miss Tourism Zimbabwe (MTZ)
Trust patron Barbra, everything has completely gone quiet, spelling uncertainty
over the pageant.
Former MTZ spokesperson Spencer Manyemba said he had not
seen or heard from Mzembi since the time the license was cancelled.
“Right now only ZTA can give you an official comment on the
pageant. About the Trust, I am not sure anymore because I have not seen Mrs
Mzembi since then,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Mzembi were fruitless as her
mobile phone went unanswered.
Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Trust and ZTA had for long been
involved in a spat, believed to have been politically induced, which last month
left the licensing authority’s boss Karikoga Kaseke threatening to revoke the
rights.
A model, one of the 20 finalists who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said there had been a communication breakdown between the trust and
the models since the day the licence was withdrawn.
“We are not in touch with the trust. However, we want to
know what happened to the $80 000 that was said to have been received from
Treasury and if the preparations for the pageant were at an advanced stage, why
did they cancel the event?” she asked.
The models said they also wanted to know about their fate
after they had been selected among the best.
Mystery also surrounds Mzembi’s girl child projects that
were pledged by the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Trust at the Masquerade Ball
Fundraising dinner on November 1.
People are questioning where the charity money could have
gone.
At the ball, Mzembi told guests that they were dedicated to
enriching the girl child.
“As Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, we are committed to playing a
role, though it might be a small contribution to the bigger picture, in the
upliftment of the girl child through sewing projects. In order to sustain these
projects, we need assistance from both corporates and individuals,” she was
quoted by our sister paper NewsDay to have said at the event then.
ZTA spokesperson Sugar Chagonda said he was not aware
whether or not the funds from the charitable event would go to the expected
projects.
“We do not know what the trust will do and we are no longer
in contact with them so I cannot say anything on that issue,” Chagonda said.
He added that ZTA was in the process of searching for a new
suitable partner to run the pageant and that a conclusive decision out of the
submissions they had received would be made next year.
“We have not given the licence to anyone yet, although we
have submissions so far but we will look at credibility before handing it to
anyone,” he added, suggesting the 20 finalists selected this year were now out
of the picture.
“There was nowhere we could have given it to someone to run
it this year because they would want to come in with a new team and run things
the way they deem fit,” he said.
Of late, politics has meddled deep with showbiz, in turn
stalling progress when lines are crossed. Standard
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