Zimpapers Logo

Carnival Queen Zimbabwe, Gamuchirai Kujeke, says her reign has opened up a lot of business opportunities as she is now a farmer and a child activist.

Kujeke, who represented the country at Miss Tourism International in Malaysia last year, said she was now involved in advocacy against early child marriages in Zimbabwe.

“I grew up in Bindura where early child marriages were very common. It was because of either traditional or religious beliefs that girls were forced into marriage.

“One day I toured some of the schools there and was saddened to see empty desks in classrooms. One of them belonged to an intelligent girl who was married off into a polygamous marriage and therefore didn’t sit for her Advanced level examinations,” she said.

As a result, the beauty queen launched a campaign against early marriages.

“Last year, I launched a campaign under the “Not Ripe for Marriage” banner. Part of the advocacy includes training young girls who are impoverished, financial managements skills.

“We equip them with these skills so that they don’t resort to getting married at a young age.

We also educate communities on the dangers of early child marriage,” Kujeke said.

Apart from being an activist, the queen has now ventured into poultry farming.

“Winning Carnival Queen Zimbabwe opened my eyes to identify business ideas where I could invest my money. I now have a thriving poultry business in Mount Hampden, Harare,” she said.

Turning to her Malaysia experience at the Miss Tourism International pageant, Kujeke described it as exciting and an eye- opener.

“My experience in Malaysia was awesome. I got connected to different cultures and saw the way other people dress and communicate,” said Kujeke.

A total of 59 contestants took part in the contest held on New Year’s Eve where Kujeke was voted Miss Talent. Philippines’ Parul Shah was crowned queen.

She said she felt honoured to participate at the pageant as it had always been her desire to raise the Zimbabwean flag high.

“I always wanted to become the best in the arts industry. I was greatly honoured to be voted Miss Talent. I won a very special glass trophy and some jewellery worth thousands of dollars.”

Africa was represented at the international pageant by Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Namibia and Nigeria with Thailand winning the Miss Perfect Smile, Best Tourism was won by Bosnia Herzegovina and Miss Portrait was won by Bolivia.

The prestigious pageant was inaugurated in 1994 and it has seen the participation of more than 500 Miss Tourism beauties from around the globe.

The Carnival queen said she learnt that Zimbabwe needed to emulate the resourceful museums and galleries such as the ones she saw in Malaysia.

As her reign comes close to an end, Kujeke said she hoped to groom other youths aspiring to be exceptional models.-Showbiz Reporter/Harare Bureau