Preps for Miss Zim at advanced stage

Running under the theme, “I am  Zimbabwean”, the final showdown would be staged on 25 February at the Harare International Conference Centre.
Prior to the finals, the models drawn   from the country’s 10 provinces will embark on cervical cancer awareness programme countrywide.

In an interview yesterday, Miss Zim Trust spokesperson Yvonne Chiwara said the models were expected to be in camp from the beginning of February.

“The girls will be in camp in Marondera as from 1 February in preparation of the finals at the end of the month,” said Chiwara.

She said during their period in camp, models would take part in many projects that include a cervical cancer awareness campaign.
“All the models are expected to go around the provinces during the cervical cancer awareness campaigns.  We realised cervical cancer one of the top killer diseases after the HIV/Aids pandemic but it is sad to note that most people are ignorant that it is curable,” said Chiwara.

She said it was unfortunate that there were only two institutions in the country that can treat the disease.
Chiwara said there would be an additional three models to the usual 30 models from the country’s 10 provinces.

“We have three other new faces in the beauty pageant, two girls from the Miss University pageant and Miss Chitungwiza,” she said.

Chiwara, who oversees the competitions at provincial level, said despite their traditional sponsor, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority pulling out of the competition, they were expecting a bigger and better contest.

The reigning Miss Zimbabwe 2011 is Malaika Mushandu who has also done well as she finished in the top 15 of the Miss World finals held in November last year.

Last year, Bulawayo province was represented by Miss Bulawayo 2011 Nadia Gori, Miss Bulawayo 2011 second princess Precious Dube and the controversial Lungile Mathe.

The upbeat Miss Bulawayo 2012 Bongani Dhlakama, second time participant Precious Dube and first princess Precious Chingonzo are expected to bring the crown to the City of Kings this time around.

Bulawayo has in the past produced models who have excelled at national beauty pageants.  The last time the crown came to Bulawayo was in 2010 when Samantha Tshuma won it.