Rumbidzai Mhlanga, Sunday Life Reporter
THE long awaited Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Bulawayo took place last weekend at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Natasha Carol Gora was crowned Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Bulawayo, Aulynda Mudzingwa first princess and Chipo Mandiudza as the second princess. The trio will represent Bulawayo at the national finals.
While the licence holder for Miss Tourism Bulawayo, Nobesuthu Masango, said the event was well planned and flawless, sources close to the happening have a different perspective about the Saturday event.
“The event was a success, the turnout actually surprised me, I did not think it would be a full house considering the economic challenges many of us face and the fact that we thought there would be a demonstration (MDC-A organised) I supposed many people might not make it.
Unlike last year’s event this year we hired a smaller venue hence we had a bit of a smaller crowd because we wanted the event to be exclusive following our theme for the year and we wanted to portray modelling as an art because modelling is art,” Masango said.
However, according to a source, the event had many flaws, the greatest of them being alleged unfair judgement.
“Miss Tourism Bulawayo was greatly planned.
I loved the set up and most of all the choreography was on point. If only judging was fair, I feel like there was favouritism.
I do not understand why one has to be a judge for one particular pageant for more than 10 years even though it is a matter of experience but leaders should create leaders.
The Miss Tourism Bulawayo judges panel has to be changed, not that they don’t know their job but they should give the ones they taught a chance to explore and practice what they taught them.”
However, Masango said people view things differently.
“When attending events like the one we had people have their expectations.
I suppose among the crowd there were friends and relatives for contestants hence they were hoping their loved ones would win but there had to be one winner, if it was up to me I would make all my contestants winners because according to me they all did exceptionally well but we had to choose only three winners but that does not mean the others are not good enough, there was no way I could please everyone.
“I have experienced judges who have been in the industry long enough to know what is best for our province, this is a big event so I cannot pick a random person and put them in the judges panel, for that reason I am not changing my judges because they have never disappointed us hence we do not have any reason to do so,” Masango added.
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