Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma [email protected]
RENOWNED Gwanda based poet Nqindi is set to headline the official launch of the Mr and Mrs Rural Zimbabwe pageant, which is set to be held on October 4 at the Mbuya Nehanda National Monument in Harare.
Nqindi is also expected to serenade arts lovers at the grand finale that has been scheduled for the Heritage Village in Harare on October 22.
Mr and Mrs Rural Zimbabwe, which has been on a hiatus, is returning for an edition that is expected expected to empower aspiring models.
Nyasha Phiri from Gokwe, Midlands, won the last edition of the national pageant while Abigail Mabhoni from Masvingo was the inaugural winner in 2004.
As part of the launch, which will be held near the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) offices, a section of Samora Machel Avenue will be temporarily closed to pave way for a street march.
In an interview, Nqindi said that he hoped his perfomances in Harare will cement his role in the country’s cultural heritage movement.
“I am excited about the opportunity to showcase my work to a bigger audience and contribute meaningfully to the preservation of Zimbabwean culture.
“Being in Harare will allow him to collaborate, learn and grow while ensuring that my art remains a vital cog in telling the Zimbabwean story,” said Nqindi.
Mr and Miss Rural Zimbabwe founder and organiser Sipho Mazibuko said preparations were at an advanced stage, with her team working hard to meet all the requirements.
“It will be a street march near the ZTA offices leading to the Mbuya Nehanda National Monument, where we are going to showcase our natural beauty as well as heritage sites.
“We chose the Mbuya Nehanda statue because she is part of our cultural heritage. A lot of people need to be educated about Mbuya Nehanda because she remains one of the important figures in Zimbabwe’s liberation history. She did her part despite being a woman, and we want the entire nation to celebrate her,” she said.
Mazibuko said the launch would also culminate in a celebration of Zimbabwean culture through poetry.
“It will be a huge celebration where we are inviting chiefs and the Chiefs Council, as well as model chiefs.
“Nqindi all the way from Gwanda is set to be part of the coming events as we hail his contribution in the creative sector,” she said.
The organisers said the choice of the heritage site was also intended to give the participating rural girls an opportunity to connect with Zimbabwe’s history while showcasing the country’s cultural identity to a wider audience.
Mazibuko said the event would bring together culture, tourism, heritage and the empowerment of rural girls, making the launch more than just a conventional beauty pageant.
“We are doing all this to ensure that we promote our culture, rural beauty and tourism.
“This has always been my wish, to fulfil this mission. We are more than ready to leave an impression,” she said.
Miss Rural Zimbabwe is a unique pageant that targets rural models, who are often marginalised and have limited access to the opportunities enjoyed by their urban counterparts.
The pageant seeks to promote Ubuntu, confidence-building and the empowerment of rural girls, while creating a platform for them to showcase their talents, beauty and cultural heritage.
The organisers hope this year’s edition will further strengthen the link between rural development, tourism and cultural preservation, while inspiring young women to take pride in their roots and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Follow on X :@mthabisi_mthire
