By Tonderai Brandon Ndemera
All is set for the Miss Schools Zimbabwe pageant, which will be held in Harare on Saturday.
This is the second edition of the pageant, which is powered by child rights group Simudziranayi Community Trust. The first edition was successfully held last year following a preparatory boot camp at Mudziyashe Resort.
Simudziranayi Community Trust director Zinzile Mantiziba said everything was in place for the pageant slated for the Holiday Inn.
“We will hold this year’s grand finale on June 1 from 1pm to 5pm at Holiday Inn running under the theme Empowering young girls through pageantry,” said Mantibiza
Twenty-two contestants drawn from learning institutions across the country will battle for honours.
“We went all around Zimbabwe identifying models to represent their respective provinces in the finals,” Mantiziba said.
“We realised the thirst and the need to give the young girls exposure after we were impressed by the amount of untapped modelling talent that we found lying dormant in the rural areas.”
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Some of the models expected on the ramp on the day include Michelle Hakalimama of Kuwadzana 1 High School, Tanaka Mushongani of Beverly Hills College, Wendy Chisingarambwe of Herentials College and Chipo Nyanungo of Mount Pleasant High.
“The girls are young and the programme will be a life lecture for them. We will teach them skills, which they will carry on with them for the rest of their lives, aiding them in navigating a seemingly male-dominated society,” said Mantibiza.
Simudziranayi Community Trust is partnering companies such as ZLG, Vatumwa “Your Personal Assistant ”, Owami Beauty Hub and Women in Health. Mantibiza said their partners, just like Simudziranayi Community Trust, were making clear efforts on catering for the physical and mental wellness of the girls.
The child rights activist said they had roped in Esther Mawere, a psychologist, and all-round health official responsible for a mural of female friendly workshops.
“Mawere’s organisation, Women in Health, deals with fitness, beauty, medical wellness, weight loss and general women health education,” Mantiziba said.
“We urge other corporates to come on board to promote and support this cause as we continue to create platforms that help uplift the girl child.”
Simudziranayi Community Trust has been in existence for the past five years working with the girl child and the less privileged in society.
