HARARE - Miss Zimbabwe finals held in Harare on Saturday was a night of many pretty girls, sparkly clothes, pearly-white smiles, amazing bikini bods, music, drumming, the army, the environment and economic blueprint ZimAsset.
The theme, “Lifting ZimAsset to greater heights”, was the gospel throughout the exclusively-attended pageant finals.
After all the sashaying, posing and displaying of talent, law student Thabiso Phiri was crowned the 2014 Miss Zimbabwe.
While there were some fears among guests that the finals’ night would be chilly, the weather was friendly.
Minister of Climate, Savior Kasukwere was thanked by the comperes for “communicating with the weather to behave.”
Kasukuwere said his ministry had fully endorsed the re-launch of Miss Zimbabwe and supported the efforts by its current patron, Mary Chiwenga, wife to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces head, general Constantine Chiwenga.
And she really pulled it off with a world-class pageant, beaming as she sat besides her immaculately dressed husband.
On a night that saw politicians and the well-heeled forking out a cool $300 per head for admission, the venue’s stage looked splendid.
The 15 contestants strutted their stuff on a nicely decorated ramp.
And the event had full support of the Presidential Guard, which was involved in the crowning ceremony.
The models were asked questions on general knowledge, and some tough military questions, including three tactics used by the army. Other questions were relatively easy, including who the Defence minister was.
Multiple National Arts Merit Awards winner and the army’s ambassador Jah Prayzah and his band put up a splendid military style display dressed in replica army regalia.
The contestants strutted their stuff, working the runway with twirls, prancing model steps and hair flicks showing off big smiles.
But some felt after spending a month in a five-star hotel with plenty of food, some of the girls were overfed during boot camp.
Some of the models were curvy, voluptuous even, with ample bums, attracting cheers from the crowd.
But critics say they cannot compete on the international stage where the size zero model is the in-thing.
And as for hair, they all went for weaves, with different styles.
The winner of Miss Zimbabwe 2014 is endowed going by the crowd’s reaction. She stole the show on the night.
And when the winner for Miss Legs, Martha Mangwaira was announced, she modelled onto the stage in a full dress that concealed her winning assets.
Maita Kainga won the “People’s Choice” accolade after viewers cast their vote via cellphone platforms.
With music on the menu, the long night saw sungura musician Alick Macheso put up a superb performance with his Orchestra Mberikwazvo crew.
A traditional group, Amuzulu, that performed on the night, at one time took control and attention of the guests as it involved everyone in a unison drumming session.
The band placed congas besides the guests’ tables, then asked them to play along to its lead instructions.
The drumbeat was amazing.
The night however, belonged to urban groover Trevor Dongo who sang live for each of the 15 models as they cat-walked in various clothes by several talented designers.
Cynthia Mare sang a soulful song dedicated to her late mother, while Macheso and Jah Prayzah also dedicated their slots to love songs.
Kiki Divaris, Miss Zimbabwe national patron, and the two Miss Carnival Queens, were invited to the stage for a dance for the guests who included ministers Webster Shamu, Walter Mzembi and Kasukuwere, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikoga Kaseke, government and army officials.
And Kiki and the Miss Carnival Queens can dance; tall as they are. They indeed rocked and went down boogying.
Earlier, Kiki, while at her table, took to the dance floor when Leonard Dembo’s Chitekete was belted out.
Maybe it took her back to the 90s when she actively ran the Miss Zimbabwe pageant and the song was a hit.
Hosts Emmanuel Manyika and ZiFM radio DJ Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa kept the pageant rolling, live on State TV from Mabvazuva Village.
But there was some poor coordination between the two that seemed to overshadow an otherwise pleasant and flowing evening.
At one time they introduced Leonard Dembo’s song Chitekete, which was a back track during one segment, yet Four Brothers’ hit song Rudo Moto was played.
The co-presenters got into each other’s slots, interrupting each other on several occasions.
It seemed they had not rehearsed well for the presentation.
But Manyika was in his element, churning out joke after joke by perfectly imitating politicians such as President Robert Mugabe, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, US President Barack Obama and the late South African icon Nelson Mandela.
Interestingly, Ruvheneko imitated the First Lady Grace Mugabe, reciting her favourite line: “My husband, His Excellency the President...”