By Rex Mphisa
BEITBRIDGE will this year host the Mr and Miss Rural Matebeleland South Provincial finals, a pageant which seek to acknowledge undiluted rural modelling natural aptitude.
Founder, convener and director of the pageant Sipho Mazibuko confirmed the development expected to take place at a later date to be announced but ahead of national finals this year.
“Last year we were in another district but this year we are hosting the Matabeleland finals in Beitbridge, you may please send me your other questions because now I am in the middle of something,” she said.
Miss Rural Zimbabwe is a beauty pageant founded by Mazibuko in the early 2000s to empower and showcase the talent of rural youth in Zimbabwe, with provincial and national events taking place to select winners who serve as cultural ambassadors.
The pageant aims to retain young people in their communities and promote national development.with its key aspects of Mr/Miss Rural Zimbabwe being empowerment are empowerment of rural youth:
According to its history the pageant’s primary goal is to give rural youths a platform to shine, build confidence, and stay connected to their communities.
The pageant involves various levels of competition, including provincial finals, leading to the crowning of a national Miss Rural Zimbabwe.
At the moment casting and provincial competitions are underway with the process involving talent search.
The pageant has attracted the attention of some government top officials with ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera at one time pledging laptops for winners.
Musician and socialite Sandra Ndebele also pledged to teach those willing to have lessons on music come under her wings in her own efforts to support the Mazibuko project.