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Langalakhe Mabena
After attending a week-long boot camp in Bulawayo, where they received immense grooming and preparation, the contestants for this year’s Miss and Mr Rural Zimbabwe Matabeleland South Province are ready to do the catwalk and runway respectively.
The provincial finals will be held today (27 September) from 5pm at Avoca Business Centre in Filabusi under Chief Maduna. The models who are participating are from all seven districts of Matabeleland South.
They will be dressed by top designers from all over Zimbabwe, who used the national fabric to come up with the model’s dresses.
After the Queen and the King who will represent Mat South at the national finals are crowned, the programme will continue with a musical gala, which will see local artistes performing.
One of the major performers who spectators should keep an eye on is Prayer Sibanda — an eight year-old poetry gem from Singwango, Insiza, Filabusi, who is a grade three pupil at Singwango 1 primary school.
Sipho Mazibuko, who is the founder and patron of the pageant said that she was grateful that this year’s events are kick-starting at Avoca where she grew up.
“It’s a blessing that we are starting this year’s activities at home in Filabusi under Chief Maduna who gave us blessings to host the event at Avoca. Home is the best and I believe by starting here, all the other coming events will be fruitful and a success.
“This year for every provincial final we will have four segments for the competition which are Cultural, Environmental Awareness, Drug Awareness as well as National Dress Fabric Evening gown section.
“We have challenged ourselves to design the programme not to be about modelling only but we fused the provincial finals with a gala so as to provide entertainment to the people of Filabusi.
“The gala will also allow us to discover new talent within the region as we will have artistes from Filabusi who are looking for exposure and visibility performing. We also have a surprise established guest artiste who will take to the stage.
“I hope that with this gala we will discover another Sandra Ndebele who became a national sensation 22 years ago after being our headline artiste at the Inaugural Miss Rural,” said Mazibuko.
Grace Sibanda (19) who is a contestant encouraged people to come in numbers to support the rural girl child as such an opportunity has the power to change their lives.
“I am grateful to be part of the models who made it to the provincial finals in Mat South, this a life-changing experience as all my life I have dreamt of becoming a model and here the dream is coming true. I encourage businesspeople and the community to come and support us as we chase our dreams,” said Sibanda.
Online Reporter