“We have gone big on this event and we are urging the people of Manicaland to come and support the girls. Already we have a huge response from Harare businesspeople and socialites that want to come for the pageant and enjoy an outing in Nyanga away from the city hustle and bustle. This is our moment to dress up, enjoy and market Manicaland, so please come and support the girls and make this the glamorous event it deserves to be,” said Marufu-Buwu.

…’Kure’ hitmaker Ishan to make cameo appearance
Ngoni Dapira
THE hunt for the 2019 Miss Tourism Manicaland crown queen will finally be over this Saturday at Montclair Hotel and Casino after thorough auditions in May and a number of grooming tours over the past months to sharpen the models.

Man-of-the-moment Ishan, the ‘Kure’ hitmaker is expected to make a cameo appearance at the show.

The die is cast and the Miss Tourism Manicaland license holder and former model Caroline Marufu-Buwu said preparations were now at an advanced stage with advance tickets selling at various centres in Harare and Mutare. In Mutare, Spar Supermarket and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Manicaland office are selling the tickets whilst in Harare Spinalong Music is the point of sale. The tickets are selling at RTGS $40, $120 and $160 for a regular, VIP and VVIP ticket respectively. The event kicks off at 6:30pm.

The 13 finalists that started their two-day boot camp yesterday (Wednesday) at Udu Lodge in Nyanga will enjoy a date with nature in the tranquil and scenic Nyanga Parks and Wildlife resort area, before they strut on the catwalk for the coveted crown on Saturday.

Miss Tourism Manicaland license holder Caroline Marufu-Buwu with the reigning Miss Tourism Manicaland 1st princess who is also the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2nd princess, Life Matunzeni, during this year’s auditions in May.

“The whole idea behind the boot camp is for the girls to experience and appreciate the tourist attractions in and around Manicaland. We brought them to Nyanga as the host district this year and want them to know what makes Nyanga a grand tourist destination. This pageant is about tourism so we are selling tourism through beauty and want to choose the best ambassador for our province and for Zimbabwe as a whole,” said Marufu-Buwu, the former Miss Zimbabwe 2007 and Miss Tourism Africa 2007 beauty queen that speaks from experience.

This will be her second edition since taking over last year and setting off her campaign on a high note after Manicaland won the crown at the national pageant. Manicaland is currently the reigning province with the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe crown that was won by the 22- year old lawyer Tafadzwa Jaricha who received the top prize of $10 000 and a Mercedes-Benz C Class. The province wrote its own history at the pageant after two of its models won at the national pageant which saw Life Matunzeni (Miss Tourism Manicaland first princess) being chosen as the second princess.

The reigning Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Tafadzwa Jaricha when she was receiving her car prize.

It is however not only going to be a glamorous night focusing on catwalks and beautiful models, but there is also a lot of entertainment lined-up courtesy of Harare’s Spinalong Music and Harare businessman and socialite Innocent “Mhofela” Shito, who is a known arts supporter and lavish spender during musical concerts in Harare.

The ‘Kumagumo Erudo’ jazz sensation, Diana Samkange will headline the music front supported by acts from Boi Mac, SwayTh3rd, J Nova and local artistes from Nyanga. A cameo appearance by Afro-fusion rising star and man-of- the-moment Isheanesu Chigagura better known as Ishan, the ‘Kure’ hitmaker has also been arranged. The ‘Kure’ song which features rapper Ti Gonzi was released early this year and the new kid on the block topped most of the local music charts for months. Whether Ishan will be a one hit wonderer or not, only time will tell, but for now the 21-year old artiste has definitely been a busy bee headlining many shows in Harare. This will be his first show in Nyanga, so his fans will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with him and see him perform live.

Diana Samkange

The MC for the event will be Diamond FM presenter and station manager Jabulani ‘JB’ Mangezi who is known for his midus touch on the mic as a charismatic presenter in the mould of renowned television and radio personality Tichaona ‘Tich Mataz’ Matambanadzo. The Mutare based commercial, community radio station will also be broadcasting the event live whilst Alpha Media will also livestream the event as media partners.

“We have gone big on this event and we are urging the people of Manicaland to come and support the girls. Already we have a huge response from Harare businesspeople and socialites that want to come for the pageant and enjoy an outing in Nyanga away from the city hustle and bustle. This is our moment to dress up, enjoy and market Manicaland, so please come and support the girls and make this the glamorous event it deserves to be,” said Marufu-Buwu.