Sipho Mazibuko founded the Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant with the aim of uplifting and empowering marginalized communities. This initiative provides a platform for rural youths to showcase their talents, build confidence, and act as change agents in their communities.
The pageant focuses on youths in rural areas who have limited access to resources and opportunities. To participate, individuals must be between 18 and 25 years old, unmarried, and without children. They should have passed five Ordinary Level subjects, come from a 100% rural background, and have natural hair or naturally braided hair. Models must also wear a maximum dress size of 38 and live in a rural setting.
Mazibuko has established outreach programs engaging rural communities through chiefs and traditional leaders. With the support of the ICT ministry, workshops and training sessions are conducted to promote participation and trust among rural youths. These initiatives aim to encourage digitization and provide a platform for the youth to voice their concerns and develop their skills.
The pageant seeks to empower rural youth by challenging harmful gender stereotypes and promoting positive role models. Participants are given opportunities to build their leadership and life skills through mentorship and training. Programs like Esteemed Business Women Zimbabwe educate them on entrepreneurship, further enhancing their capabilities.
Mazibuko plans to sustain support for rural girls through continued outreach programs, resource allocation, and funded trips to China. A shop for Miss Rural contestants will be opened to hone their business skills. Sponsors are ready to fund these trips, and each provincial winner will receive a borehole and a Starlink kit at their homestead. An office hut will be built at the winner’s home, where she can address issues from her contestants in each district.
The provincial queen will tackle issues such as child marriages and gender-based violence. With ICT minister Tatenda Mavetera offering laptops for national finals contestants, models will receive ICT training and learn how to navigate social media. The National Aids Council will also educate them on the dangers of promiscuity, while musician Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi will guide them on tapping into their talents.
During the national finals boot camp, the First Lady, Her Excellency Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa, is expected to conduct the Gota/Nhanga/Ixiba program for the models. The use of national dress fabric for most outfits aims to instill pride in Zimbabwean identity and the importance of the national dress.
The pageant has already had a significant impact on the lives of rural girls. Abigail Mabhoni, the inaugural winner, was educated through high school and university, eventually working at Econet. Other success stories include Miss Chivhu 2004, who is now an organic food farmer, and Juliet Ncube from Plumtree, who secured a top modeling contract in South Africa. Yolanda Shumba and Evangelista Mulambo are now top models in France and Italy, respectively.
Chief Mbusi Bekithemba Dakamela views the Mr./Miss Rural pageant as beneficial for rural youth. It showcases their talents, beauty, culture, and creativity, creating an appreciation of rural diversity. The initiative is seen as a way to address socioeconomic challenges and reduce rural-urban migration by creating opportunities and development within rural communities.
Mazibuko envisions a rise in youth-led projects, cultural diversity, and infrastructural development in rural areas. The goal is to ensure equal opportunities for both rural and urban youth, fostering a balanced and inclusive society.
The Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant is more than a beauty contest; it is a movement to empower and uplift rural youth, providing them with the tools and opportunities to become leaders and changemakers in their communities.
Source: Newsday
