Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Tatenda Chipungudzanye
27 October 2007
Harare — FORMER Miss Rural Zimbabwe patron Susan Jason believes that the controversy-ridden pageant is tarnishing the country's image while some people are taking advantage of gullible rural girls to enrich themselves..
Jason, who quit her post this week, alleged that the innocent young rural girls were being pushed into the city to raise money on behalf of the organisers.
This has even compromised their education as some are still at school and supposed to be sitting for their year-end examinations.
The pageant has been postponed on numerous occasions for an assortment of reasons -- some of them contradictory -- over the last two months and the finalists have been shuffling between Masvingo and Harare.
It remains unclear whether the pageant will be held tonight according to a schedule provided by founder and organiser Sipho Mazibuko However, Mazibuko's partner, Ricky Nathanson, believed it was virtually impossible to do so, as there were no sponsors.
As of yesterday Mazibuko was confident that the pageant would go ahead although preparations were affected by rain on Thursday.
A number of potential financial backers have pulled out in recent weeks in the wake of disturbing reports on the pageant, the most damaging being the alleged abuse of the contestants.
Condemnation has come from all corners - from the Government, the police to pressure groups.
Jason said during the two weeks she worked as patron for the pageant, the Miss Rural contestants were being sent to her to scrounge for food from her and other patrons who frequent a local hotel.
"It is an embarrassing situation to see young girls milling in restaurants and at hotels' receptions baiting possible sponsors for food and general upkeep," Jason said.
Jason took time to answer various other questions relating to the pageant.
How did you get to be chosen to be the patron of Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant?
The organisers highlighted to me that the former patron of the pageant had asked to be released from his duties because of pressing work commitments.
Sipho then approached me saying the pageant wanted a patron, preferably a woman with women's interests at heart. Naturally, I saw no problem in assisting them because the idea of having a Miss Rural pageant was really noble.
I also had a very strong vision for rural girls -- I wanted to even assist them start rural projects for the benefit of the rural communities.
I only chipped in to assist them because I was once a rural girl myself and I have a good understanding of the plight of the rural girl and the community.
What can you say about the alleged abuse of girls while in camp ahead of the Miss Rural Zimbabwe finals?
It is the darkest moment for rural girls -- why should they undergo such a torrid time? Why should they go through such inhuman subjugation?
Feminity is symbolic and it should be celebrated with the person of one's choice.
Firstly, I am a mother and, don't forget, I was also a young girl at some point. I know how it feels to be abused at a tender age, be it sexually or physically.
You can go wherever you want but the incident still haunts you for the rest of your life.
I certainly can't swallow it.
A girl's virginity has to be protected and if the girl's virginity was broken in an unpleasant way then it's unforgettable.
If the alleged abuse is true then Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant yabuda mutara ikaenda mudust road (the pageant has lost its focus) and the law should take its course.
Investigations into the alleged abuse should be conducted and culprits should be brought to book without any fear or favour.
They should be able to face the consequences of their actions.
Justice must take its course.
What do you think might have led to the alleged abuse of the Miss Rural Zimbabwe finalists?
Misconceptions about Miss Rural Zimbabwe and lack of a clearly defined theme led the organisers to take the girls to the city, which is not the right place for them.
You can't go kunodiwa mari iwe usina. You are prone to abuse because you don't have security and your upkeep becomes a problem.
Rather than taking the girls around rural areas -- the constituencies they represent, they took them to the city where they became financially incapacitated and we cannot rule out abuse in such an environment.
Even before I joined them as patron I would see the girls milling around at the reception at the Holiday Inn and in the restaurants asking for donations from patrons who frequent these places.
What image does the alleged abuse cases portray to the country on the international scene?
That is why I have said that the nation has to know what is happening and if the investigations are conducted people should be brought to book if they are not law-abiding citizens.
The country has been depicted as one in moral tatters -- as one with a loose moral fabric.
Should the allegations be unfounded the nation should be advised and I think will be fair to everybody concerned.
What, in your opinion, is the ideal Miss Rural Zimbabwe?
The ideal Miss Rural Zimbabwe should be one that is rural-centred because the rural girls are usually marginalised.
In most cases when people become seriously ill they are usually taken to the rural areas -- so the Miss Rural pageant should be the one that teaches the rural folk about home-based care and other rural projects that are recommended by doctors as ideal for sick people.
Rather than kutevera maband, hotels, etc, the pageant should have been touring rural areas and helping in assisting to establish community projects.
We want to see natural beauty and there is no need to be importing clothes from China -- it's not necessary at all when we want to showcase our natural dressing in the rural areas.
Kana vasikana vacho vachipfeka mazambia kana hembe dzakabvaruka then the modelling showcase should show that mamodels akapfeka izvozvo.
Their dressing is part of their way of life.
Their dressing should tell a story to audiences about how the rural girls live.
Why should we cover up?
There are reports that Miss Rural Zimbabwe owes a local hotel a substantial amount of money. Are you aware of these reports and what would be the correct position given that you were the patron?
I'm sorry I cannot go into that because I was not even aware they were staying at the hotel.
I was only joined to the pageant when the girls were already booked into the hotel.
But from my telephone conversation with Ricky (Nathanson) they owe a local hotel close to $900 million as you rightly heard.
We even suggested that they cut costs by taking the girls to their respective homes and only return just a few days before the show but our suggestions fell on deaf ears.
In your view what is the future of the Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant?
I believe the pageant must be given a break and the organisers go back to the drawing board to rid it of the controversy surrounding it.
There should be a complete overhaul, so that the pageant becomes completely focused on the rural communities.
The beggar syndrome should also be done away with so that it portrays a more positive picture of the country.
There should be clearly laid down principles in the running of the pageant incorporating the gender ministry, education ministry and the National Arts Council. The Ministries of Health and Rural Housing should also have a say in its running.
Sipho Mazibuko is on record as saying there were people bent on wrestling the pageant away from her. Is there any truth in that?
Who wants to take the pageant away from Mazibuko?
Certainly no one!
We have always told Mazibuko to be at peace with people but she continues making all sorts of allegations about people (out to reap where they did not sow). Maybe that is how she feels.
Even if the pageant is shelved for a while she might as well continue at a later stage after investigations on child sexual abuse cases are completed.
There are also reports that the Miss Rural Zimbabwe organisers hired 50 bodyguards -- 10 for Mazibuko and 40 for the models -- specifically to "deal with barbaric onslaught by vultures". What would be your comment on that?
I only read about it in the Press as well as the grapevine.
I am still to understand the need for bodyguards in such a peaceful country like Zimbabwe. Who would want to harm Mazibuko anyway and why?
All the same, when you live in a country with people you need their consensus in anything especially if it's a worthy cause.
If Mazibuko insists on holding the show over the weekend, will you attend?
I do not want to be associated with such things.
I will certainly not attend.
Someone would be embarrassed asungwa nemapurisa kuMasvingo during the pageant.
The alleged abuse of contestants has not been investigated yet, so why are people rushing to hold the show? Is that proper?
Certainly not!
They should not rush. Instead, they should allow the police to complete their investigations.
We have to build and bank our future on those little girls.
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