Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
GLAMOUR met grassroots change as Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025, Lyshanda Moyas, stepped into Epworth community, not for the runway, but for a cause close to her heart, access to clean water.
The initiative, led by the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organisation and ZimEnergy, marked a significant step forward in addressing water shortages in one of Harare’s fastest-growing communities.
The borehole, which reaches a depth of 70 metres, will serve an estimated 700 people daily and also provide a sustainable water supply to the Glenwood Shopping Centre’s public facilities, which have faced long-standing sanitation challenges due to inconsistent water access.
For Moyas, it was a realisation of a promise she made when she first wore the crown, to use her platform for tangible, sustainable change.
“This is not about being Miss Universe Zimbabwe,” she said.
“This is about showing the world what a beauty queen with a purpose can do.”
It was also her direct link to her work around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG6: Clean water and sanitation, a cause she has championed throughout her reign.
“Without clean water, there is no health, no education, no equality,” she said. “I want my time as Miss Universe Zimbabwe to be remembered not for gowns I wore but for the communities we lifted,” she said.
Moyas, said her campaign has also emphasised SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), focusing on empowering women and creating resilient communities through sustainable interventions.
Moyas noted that water scarcity disproportionately affects women and girls, who often bear the responsibility of water collection in underserved areas.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Miss Universe Zimbabwe Board Chairperson Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi Chiwenga described the project as a critical intervention in restoring dignity, health, and opportunity to a community that has been underserved for far too long.
“As Miss Universe Zimbabwe Organisation, we say water is life, and we cannot do anything without water. We need clean water, and we are proud to have done this with respective sponsors who came on board to achieve this goal,” she said.
“Last year we came to Epworth but a different area as we scouted for places that had water challenges. We were with Miss Universe 2024 Sheynnis Palacios and managed to commission one borehole. It is in our project and we hope next year to do the same.”
Board chairperson challenged corporate sectors to prioritise water infrastructure in marginalised communities, calling clean water a basic right, not a luxury.
She commended ZimEnergy for funding the project and the Epworth Local Board for supporting its implementation, noting that such partnerships are essential to achieving long-term, sustainable development.
The borehole project is part of a broader community development strategy driven by Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025, Moyas, whose reign has been defined by a strong commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Miss Universe Zimbabwe chief executive Tendai Hunda expressed appreciation to ZimEnergy for their generous sponsorship and reiterated the organisation’s commitment to improving lives through projects like this borehole.
“We believe that access to clean water is a fundamental human right. This borehole is just one of the many ways we are working to uplift our communities and foster sustainable development,” said Hunda.
The ceremony was attended by local leaders, including Epworth Town Secretary Dr Mhanda, Members of Parliament, councillors and hundreds of residents.
Traditional leaders and community elders expressed their appreciation through song, prayer and testimonies about how the borehole will improve daily life.
Many described the borehole as a “turning point” for the area — improving hygiene, saving time and reducing the risk of water-borne diseases.
For the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organisation, the Epworth borehole is one of several planned community projects designed to extend the pageant’s mission beyond beauty into civic impact.
Chairperson Baloyi Chiwenga reiterated that this is the new identity of the organisation: one focused on leadership, transformation, and grassroots development.
