Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
30 August 2006
Harare — THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has reversed its earlier decision to have Lorraine Maphala, the reigning Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, represent the country at both the Miss World 2006 and the Miss Tourism World 2006.
Instead, her first princess, Nomakhosazana Ncube, will represent Zimbabwe at the Miss Tourism World in South Africa in October this year while Lorraine takes up the challenge in Poland on September 30.
ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke confirmed the change of plan saying it was because the events were running almost at the same time.
Preparations for events of this magnitude require about three weeks and this meant Lorraine would not have managed to take up the two assignments.
"We have sought Nomakhosazana to fill in her (Lorraine) position. It so happened that Lorraine feels that the Miss World is more prestigious than the Miss Tourism World and could help in her modelling career.
"Contestants for the Miss World are expected by September 3, the latest while those for the Miss Tourism World are expected in South Africa on September 18.
"I'm sure you are aware of prejudging that takes place before the finals and this is the reason Lorraine will not attend the Miss Tourism World. By the time she leaves Poland she won't make it because she would have missed the preliminary selection," Mr Kaseke said.
Asked why Lorraine was attending the Miss World instead of the Miss Tourism World, Mr Kaseke said she had a right to choose which pageant to take part in. "She feels that the Miss World is more prestigious than the Miss Tourism World and she has a right to choose which pageants she wants to take part in.
"Are you saying that we shouldn't take part in the Miss World and in any case, who would you have put instead of Nomakhosazana.
"As the sponsors we respected her choice and yes, I agree she was geared up for the Miss Tourism World and for us that was in fact, the appropriate contest but she made her choice and we support her," he said.
There has been a serious clash of programmes, prompting the ZTA to withdraw Maphala's participation at the Miss Tourism World scheduled for KwaZulu Natal in South Africa on October 5 as she would be in Warsaw, Poland for the Miss World slated for September 30.
Lorraine is leaving the country for Poland on September 1, 2006 and will be in camp at least three weeks before the finals among a host of other beauties.
In Warsaw, she will market Zimbabwe as one of prime holiday countries and undertake tree-planting programme.However, contestants for the Miss Tourism World are expected to converge in the South African province of KwaZulu Natal at least two weeks before the finals on October 5, 2006, thereby making it difficult to attend both pageants.
The Miss Zimbabwe Trust, which used to organise the Miss Zimbabwe in the previous years and the ZTA, the organisers of the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, merged into what critics view as a noble move. The development came after Zimbabwe successfully hosted last year's Miss Tourism World won by Zuzana Putnarova of the Czech Republic while Zimbabwe's own Oslie Matsikenyeri nee Muringai was the first runner-up.
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