Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi has described this years Miss Zimbabwe pageant as a success despite the withdrawal by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), the main sponsors Mzembi declared that the devil was ashamed after Fridays event.
In apparent reference to previous organisers among them the ZTA that had tried to throw spanners into the works Mzembi said organisers had put up a five-star performance, contrary to wishes of detractors.
Ironically, the ultimate winner of this years pageant, Bongani Dhlakama, is an employee of ZTA.
But she will not be lucky enough to enjoy several prizes that used to be bankrolled by her employers in the previous pageants.
Mzembi said the government had been watching all the fights between the organisers and ZTA.
We sponsored and assisted the organisers by intervening to ensure that the pageant did not collapse. I am very impressed by the organisers who managed to do an excellent job by putting on a flawless act.
ZTA chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke said they withdrew from organising the pageant because of several reasons, among them the Lungile Mathe saga.
Mathe caused a rift between him and Mzembi after she was dethroned for allegations of stealing a watch from a client and unbecoming behaviour.
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The show was marred by low attendance, which was attributed to poor marketing of the event. Earlier on, ZTA had said they would take one of the top three models and attach her at ZTA during her reign.
But all that was changed after misunderstandings with the organisers of the pageant. Now that one of their own has been crowned queen, it remains to be seen if they will support her.
