Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
CHIEF Tategulu’s homestead in Tsholotsho Ward 9 will be a hive of activity today as it hosts the provincial finals for Miss Rural and Mr Rural Matabeleland North.
A bevy of 22 models and eight hunks will compete for the opportunity to represent the region.
Pageant organiser Sipho Mazibuko shared with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub that preparations for the event are progressing smoothly.
“The search for Miss Rural and Mr Rural in Matabeleland North is in full swing and has been exciting, as all the chiefs in the province have welcomed us warmly,” she said.
“The pageant will take place at Chief Tategulu’s homestead on June 6, coinciding with the celebrations for Culture Month.
“We are grateful that the Chief has embraced our initiative, and we are honoured to hold the pageant at his homestead with his blessings,” she emphasised.
Mazibuko expressed confidence in the quality of participants for the event.
“All the contestants are in high spirits as we speak. We have selected 22 models for Miss Rural and eight boys competing for the King’s title.
“We toured all seven districts, and it was encouraging to register over 100 models. We had to narrow it down to 30—22 girls and eight boys,” she stressed.
After the Matabeleland North affair, Mazibuko’s team will proceed to Mashonaland West for another round of preliminaries.
“As indicated in the previous interview, we have only covered Matabeleland South, and after Matabeleland North, we will head to Mashonaland West.
“We are finalising everything with the chiefs, and June 20 is the day we have set aside for the preliminaries. Afterwards, it will be Masvingo, and then we will proceed to other provinces,” she added.
She revealed that the winners will be empowered with various projects to keep them engaged.
“We are going to hand over 200 broiler chicks each to the winners so that we keep them busy with income-generating projects of their choice.
“This will go a long way to ensure that these models are empowered. All the provincial winners will be expected to present bankable proposals so that we can empower them with funding for various projects,” she stressed.
She also revealed further plans to take the winners to China for a cultural exchange programme.
“All the provincial winners will have a chance to tour China to exchange ideas with others.
“We also want them to start their businesses back home after that tour. We aim to open well-stocked China Shops in all rural districts.”
Mazibuko, who started the pageant in 2002, highlighted that the contest is also meant to empower rural models with life skills.
“We are not only looking for beautiful models; we want to empower them and ensure they have opportunities.
“Young people in rural areas can succeed in life, given equal opportunities like their counterparts in urban areas. “We don’t want young ladies and men in rural areas to miss out on opportunities.”
Mazibuko, who has mastered the art of grooming models for over three decades, was pleased with the Matabeleland North finalists.
“You will be surprised to note that some of the models have passed their ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels but cannot pursue their studies. The sad reality is that most of these youngsters lack access to entertainment and media.
“For instance, when the Presidential Scholarship programmes were announced, most of the models did not have access to the information needed to apply.
“We are doing our best to assist them with projects to ensure they can change their lives and match their urban counterparts.”
To date, they have covered Matabeleland South, while Mashonaland West is their next stop next month.
Mathew Masinge