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Sipho Mazibuko

Sophia Chese Arts Correspondent 
A cold war has erupted between organisers of the recently launched Miss Rural Zimbabwe and Sipho Mazibuko.

Mazibuko, who founded the defunct Miss Rural Zimbabwe, is accusing Zimbabwe Multi-Talented Youth Association led by Christine Matizha of using the name “Miss Rural Zimbabwe” without consulting her while Matizha feels her own initiative is different.

Mazibukho said Matizha was supposed to at least ask her for permission to use the name since she is the legitimate licence holder.

“I am the holder of the Miss Rural licence and I feel the organisers of the recently launched beauty pageant should have consulted me first before using that name in their pageant,” she said.

On the other hand Matizha said she will not ask permission from anyone to run the “Miss Rural Zimbabwe” as she is also a legitimate holder of the licence.

“I don’t even know this Mazibuko. I am registered with the Zimbabwe Youth Council and my programme is meant to empower the marginalised girl-child in the rural areas something that is in line with the ZYC.

“My concept is way different from hers and if she wants to run hers she is free to do so,” she said.

Matizha launched the “Miss Rural Beauty” pageant last month in Seke pageant which was the first in a series of district pageants to be held in Mashonaland East.

The next pageant is set to be in Goromonzi where another rural girl-child is set to be crowned “Miss Rural Goromonzi”.

The pageant aims to celebrate rural life and uplift lives of the usually marginalised rural girls.

Matizha said “Miss Rural Zimbabwe” pageant is exclusively meant for the rural girls and is set to go to all the nine districts in Mashonalnad East before going national.