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Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
The country’s representative in the Miss World pageant Tendai Hunda is likely to miss the event as she has not secured her visa a day into the three-week camp in London. The Miss Zimbabwe Trust, however, is confident that she will travel to the United Kingdom and catch up on the activities. The pageant is set for December 14.

“Things have been hectic for the last couple of days but we have taken strides in a positive direction. The dress is now ready and we await for her Visa that is most likely to be out tomorrow (today),” said the Miss Zimbabwe Trust Modestar Muvhuni.

She said they had engaged a number of people to groom the new queen who was said to be ‘‘calm in the midst of the storm’’.

Contestants from across the globe have been converging the United Kingdom for a three-week boot camp and the pageant’s activities commenced yesterday.

After the last minute dethronement of Catherine Makaya (19) by the Miss Zimbabwe Trust, Hunda the first princess from the first pageant held in June will represent the country.

It has been a dramatic Miss Zimbabwe tale since three queens have been crowned for the same position in five months.

From Kiki to Marry

Drama has not left the Miss Zimbabwe Trust from the time its boss Kiki Divaris took over the national pageant that had been run by Zimbabwe Tourism Authority for six years until 2011.

In 2012, the cash strapped trust held its first pageant after the “break” and in spite of the financial constraints Bongani Dhlakama was crowned queen.

In 2013, former model Marry Mubaiwa officially took over as Miss Zimbabwe Chairperson and after weeks of scouting for models they announced that the pageant would not take place that year as they were unhappy with the calibre of models they had.

Chiwenga wanted to start anew and as preparations for Miss Zimbabwe 2014 intensified she went as far as disowning Dhlakama in June.

She managed to deliver a glamorous pageant on June 14 at Mabvazuva Village in Harare where University of Zimbabwe law student Thabiso Phiri (22) was crowned Queen, Tendai Hunda the first princess and Letwin Chinomona was the second princess.

Spirits were high in the Miss Zimbabwe camp soon after the pageant with Phiri visiting other regional countries, making donations and appearances in preparation to the Miss World.

On August 1, a month after being crowned, people woke up to the news that Phiri had resigned, announcing her decision through the Miss Zimbabwe Trust. No reasons were given but speculation was rife that she quit following her nude pictures that leaked on social networks.

From Tabiso to Catherine

The trust was swift to arrange another pageant where the top seven were supposed to battle for the crown.

This came as a shock to many as they thought the first princess, Hunda would step in and take the title.

The pageant organisers cited a clause in the Miss World Constitution that said it was not mandatory to automatically hand over the title to the first princess.

On August 6, an unusual Miss Zimbabwe pageant rerun was held and four contestants took part. Makaya was crowned Miss Zimbabwe.

What raised eyebrows was the absence of the first and second princesses who held on to their initial titles.

“We are happy with what we have. We celebrated our victory on July 14 and we are happy with our prizes. Today was about Catherine,” they spoke in unison in an interview with The Herald on the day.

Chiwenga on the other hand did not make it a secret that she was disappointed by the turn of events. She said she had invested so much into Phiri and was not sure on the way forward with the new queen.

In spite of the drama, Makaya was gearing to go and was ready for everything that comes with being a queen. Efforts to get updates on Makaya’s preparations were fruitless as the trust was either busy or unavailable to give details. In an unpublished interview with Makaya in October, she indicated that she felt unwanted by the trust and was being ignored. She revealed that not much had been done in terms of preparations to the Miss World preparations and her family had resorted to engaging an independent team to help her.

In no time her Facebook page was awash with preparatory activities where she engaged various stakeholders to make donations in children’s homes and clinics.

From Catherine to Tendai

Hell broke loose on November 9 when an article by The Sunday Mail revealed Makaya and her new Management had dumped the Miss Zimbabwe Trust and were working with Crispen Sachikonye who is based in the United Kingdom.

That was a week before the Miss World boot camp and according to her manager Yvonne Chiwara, they were not progressive. The trust responded by dethroning Makaya on November 16 for being rebellious.

This time, the Trust resorted to a procedure they had avoided after the initial dethronement.

They chose the first princess to represent the country but time was no longer on their side to prepare her for the international pageant.

That is why it has been reported that many people had to groom her and that is why Hunda is still in the country when others are already in camp. Her participation is now in doubt.

Even when she finally makes it to London, the unfolding events might affect her performance.