Online Reporter
Trust Khosa-Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
ORGANISERS of the 2026 Mr and Miss Rural Zimbabwe are working around the clock to complete preparations at provincial level ahead of the grand finale, set for September 27 in Harare.
The national finals, which will coincide with World Tourism Day, will also mark the launch of Miss Rural Africa.
Pageant organiser Sipho Mazibuko, who dreams of “conquering Africa” through the pageant, said she was pleased with the progress made ahead of the national finals.
“We are making remarkable progress as we are working with various stakeholders, including the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, traditional leaders, and other policymakers,” Mazibuko told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.
She added that, as indicated last year when plans to revive the pageant were announced, they are working closely with traditional leaders who have given approval for their activities within their areas of jurisdiction. Mazibuko said he also visited the National Arts Council offices and met Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Emily Jesaya, where she outlined her vision.
“She has also blessed us to continue with the good work we are doing. We even left her our Miss Rural Africa trademark as we focus on conquering the continent,” she said.
Mazibuko revealed that the focus is now on the national finals, which she believes will change the narrative and empower models.
She said that, in terms of provincial finals, they have already covered Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Manicaland.
“We are looking forward to selecting representatives from Mashonaland East, West, and Central provinces in July. We will then move to Midlands ahead of the national finals set for Harare,” she said.
The Bulawayo-born pageant praised her team for scouting quality models. “To be honest, my teams have exceeded expectations by selecting some of the finest models who are both cultured and intelligent,” Mazibuko said.
She added that some finalists selected in Manicaland are already involved in income-generating programmes in rural communities, while others have become licensed drivers. “I was blown away by their focus, despite being marginalised rural youth who don’t have access to opportunities as compared to their urban counterparts,” she asserted.
Mazibuko also said they will continue supporting the finalists even after the national finals. “We are always in touch with our finalists and winners, assessing their progress wherever they are. We believe in their personal growth and development, which is why we always check on them.”
She further stated that the organisers are open to collaborations and partnerships with various stakeholders in the creative community.
“With our vision of promoting rural, less privileged models, we can only empower our girls if we pull in one direction and support their vision. We have been longing for this over the years, and it is our dream to continue helping them. We need partners who are willing to work with us, and we have always said that our door will remain open to those willing to collaborate,” she added.
With all eyes now on the national finals on 27 September, Masvingo will be represented by Angeline Taruvanda from Malipati, Chiredzi and the provincial prince, Lovemore Nyanyira Chivi South. The pair were selected earlier this year during stiff competition involving contests from across Masvingo’s rural districts.
Joining the duo at the national finals is Blessing Mpofu from Dete in Matabeleland North.
In the ladies’ categories, Vithikazi Mahlangu from Lupane will be vying for the Miss Rural Zimbabwe crown, along with other provincial finalists.
Macecisi Dube, the Matabeleland North princess, narrowly missed out on the provincial crown despite being the crowd’s favourite.
Now that they have covered other districts, Mazibuko said the focus is on the “big crown” set for Harare.
“I can assure you that the national finals are coming to Harare, and we are looking for a venue which resonates with our theme and vision of promoting culture through pageantry. We are also promoting the issue of beauty with brains, where we want rural models to be given equal opportunities with their counterparts in urban areas.” Mr and Miss Rural Zimbabwe is among the national pageants that have been praised for promoting marginalised models from rural areas. There is also modelling talent that has been overlooked over the years without being given the exposure it deserves.
Mazibuko and her team said they are working hard to address this gap through collaborations with various stakeholders, with the goal of empowering rural models and ensuring they have a platform to shine.
With preparations well underway and strong support from key stakeholders, the 2026 Mr and Miss Rural Zimbabwe national finals promise to be a major celebration of culture, opportunity, and rural talent as the search for representatives for Miss Rural Africa continues in Harare. Nyasha Phiri of Gokwe was the last beauty queen to be crowned Miss Rural in 2007. The pageant comes back after a long hiatus.
