Miss Zim models snub rented house

Authority (ZTA) in Milton Park, Harare.
The fully furnished four-bedroomed house was availed to them by the authority to cater for models coming from outside Harare.

In an interview, the ZTA spokesperson Sugar Chagonda said it was, however, not mandatory for the girls to stay there.
“We thought it was a good idea for the girls coming from outside the capital to utilise the house but it seems they are against the idea,” he said.

At the prize-giving ceremony, the top three models – Miss Zimbabwe Malaika Mushandu and her two princesses Lisa Morgan and Rumbidzai Mudzengerere – were going to get fully furnished accommodation over and above other prizes that included cash, cars and holiday and clothing vouchers.

Last year the house was used by models from Harare and Masvingo who made it to the finals of the beauty pageant.
Chagonda added that the models were not keen to use the house, saying they were now at liberty to stay anywhere, since they now had cars and could move around.

“From the time they received their cars they have refused to stay in Milton Park and they have said they prefer to drive if ever they are called for duty as they are mobile,” said Chagonda.
Chief executive officer of ZTA Karikoga Kaseke said they would not force the models to use the house as some of them are still living with their parents.

“We will not force them to use the house because some of them are still young and live with their parents.
“Maybe that could be one of the reasons why they are refusing to use the provided accommodation,” he said.

ZTA recently stepped down from sponsoring the Miss Tourism pageant saying that the pageant was too expensive.
The chief executive officer of ZTA said this at the prize-giving ceremony for the models held in Harare last month.

ZTA had been the major sponsor of this beauty pageant.
It, however, does not mean that they are quitting the pageant but they are simply trying to cut costs.
“We will no longer sponsor the pageant and this does not mean we are divorcing ourselves from it. If the tourism sector ignores this pageant then what will be the purpose of the pageant?” asked Kaseke.