Staff Correspondent|23-YEAR-OLD lawyer with Mhungu and Associates Legal Practitioners, Tafadzwa Primrose Jaricha, shrugged off stiff competition from 20 other beauties to clinch this year’s Miss Tourism Zimbabwe crown at Rainbow Hotel in Bulawayo on Saturday night.
The Mutare-based lawyer, affiliated to Affric Modelling Agency, pocketed a cash prize of $10 000 courtesy of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and is set to receive a Mercedes-Benz C Class from South Africa-based Zimbabwean businesswoman and philanthropist, Mercy Mafaro.
Mashonaland East’s Natalie Tariro Chido Mangondo (22) and Life Deliwe Matunzeni (22) from Manicaland were respectively crowned first and second princess and received $7 000 and $5 000 respectively.
“This (being crowned queen) was my 2016 resolution. I tried my luck then and gave it my all but sadly couldn’t participate in the national finals because I was writing my final year law exams,” narrated Jaricha just after being crowned.
“In 2017, I entered once again but the pageant was cancelled. I waited patiently for 2018 and here I am.”
Asked if she has a driver’s licence, Jaricha said she is a proud holder of one.
Jaricha’s victory stunned former Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, Caroline Marufu-Buwu who is the Manicaland regional licence holder as she was proud to see not one, but two of her products shining. Before the national finals, pageants to select the top three contestants to represent the country’s 10 provinces had been held.
“I’m still pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. I’m so humbled by their win. It wouldn’t have been possible without their hard work and dedication. I’m so proud of them,” said Marufu-Buwu who also attended the event.
Meanwhile, the pageant’s license holder Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda of Fingers Academy said she had surpassed expectations by hosting the pageant.
“I am happy with the support of the people across the country, our sponsors and I am happy with the judges’ final decision and I am sure Tafadzwa is going to make Zimbabwe proud,” she said.
Mpofu-Sibanda said she was confident that Jaricha would do Zimbabwe proud on the global stage.
She said the end of Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2018 marked the beginning of preparations for next year’s pageant.
The pageant, she said would not be returning to Bulawayo next year as they want it to be spread across the country.
“I’m not making any promises that Miss Tourism Zimbabwe is coming back to Bulawayo. We want to try make it as national as possible by taking it right across the country,” said Mpofu-Sibanda.
The event was, however, marred by hiccups in its initial stages and ended up starting at 10pm instead of 8:30pm.
Bulawayo rapper Cal_Vin, who was visibly drunk, failed to excite the crowd with his poor performance.
Afro-Pop musician Mzoe 7, who was not initially on the line-up of performers, came to the rescue after doing his duet with X Mile, Do You Wanna Be My Love. He later performed with Sandra Ndebele who proved her mettle as the Queen of Bulawayo music with a top drawer performance.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo province Judith Ncube was the guest of honour. A ceremony to hand over prizes to the winners will be held soon, according to Mpofu-Sibanda.