Zimpapers Logo

Sophia Chese Arts Correspondent
Young model Divine Kureva (16) was on Friday night crowned Miss Rural Seke during the launch of the beauty pageant held at Madangure Hotel.

Kureva walked away the winner after a stiff competition from 23 other beauties from Seke district. First Princess was 16-year-old Judith Ditima while 18-year-old Ruvimbo Makoni was crowned the Second Princess.

The event, a brainchild of Zimbabwe Multi-Talented Youth Association was graced by Zanu PF central committee member Joseph Mubaiwa, Chief Sek, Seke deputy district administrator Erick Samunda, who was the guest of honour, members of Shamwari YeMwanasikana and members of Zimbabwe Youth Council among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, ZIMTAYA president Christine Matizha said the event was meant to see how best the rural girl can be socially elevated to equal her urban counterpart by showcasing her beauty and talent through modelling. “Zimbabwe Multi-Talented Youth Association envisages the crafting of unique developmental training workshops whereby youths and in particular the girl child are accorded equal opportunities in all walks of life so that she realises her potential through skills training,” she said.

She said they are planning to take the event to all the provinces in the country starting at the district level.

“This is the launch of Miss Rural Zimbabwe which we have done in Seke from here we going to all districts in Mashonaland East and to all the provinces in the country and then we go international,” she said.

Speaking at the same event, Chief Seke applauded the organisers of the event saying it will go a long way in elevating the girl child in the rural areas and urged them to keep on supporting the winners.

“This is a noble idea and what we want is for the organisers to start to support these girls whom they have exposed to stardom not to just end here, these rural girls need to be empowered so that they will teach other rural girls,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shamwari YeMwanasikana director Ekenia Chifumba who donated the prizes, dresses and make up for the contestants said their organisation will keep on supporting such events involving the girl child to make sure that the girls are protected.

“Beauty pageants of these magnitude often attract negative issues such as abuse of the girls being taken advantage because of lack of knowledge so we are here to support the girl child making sure that she is equipped with knowledge pertaining her rights to stand against abuse.”