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BY NUNURAI JENA
Miss Mash West beauty contest was turned into a political circus after a Zanu PF protégé company, House of Gushungo, virtually ran the whole function to the chagrin of the people who attended the occasion at Orange Groove Hotel, Chinhoyi last week.
The poorly attended event, which was supposed to select three top beauties, who would represent the province at the Miss Zimbabwe to be held early next year, was won by Harare-based beauty Christable Zvinavashe.
Chinhoyi residents also accused the organisers of the event of hiring contestants from Harare at the expense of locals.
The first princess was Betina Nhamburo while Letwin Muropa came third.
House of Gushungo is a clothing label which is under Yedu Nesu Holdings and it promotes the waning image of Zanu PF leader President Robert Mugabe.
Zanu PF jingles were played during the contest. Dr Davison Gomo, a chairman of Affirmative Action Group (AAG), another outfit with Zanu PF links, was one of the five judges.
But the organisers’ spokesperson, Pamela Rusere, said there was nothing amiss with the inclusion of political elements in an event that must be apolitical.
'House of gushungo' main sponsors
Under normal circumstances, Miss Mashonaland West like other beauty contests must embrace everyone regardless of political persuasion.
“House of Gushungo is the main sponsors of the event,” said Rusere. “We chose them because mainly of their roots in Mashonaland West province.
We wanted everything to be associated with the province hence selection of House of Gushungo to sponsor the function.” Rusere also denied hiring contestants from Harare.
Several beauty contests have been hijacked by Zanu PF politicians, who have in the past been accused of abusing the young and unsuspecting girls.
They also use the platform to seek relevance to the electorate as their support base continues to dwindle.
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