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Lorraine Maphala-Phiri with Barbara Mzembi

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
MISS Tourism Zimbabwe (MTZ) patron – Barbara Mzembi has declared that a model from Bulawayo will make top three in the competition.

Over the past two weeks, the Miss Tourism Trust has been conducting auditions around the country. They stopped by in Bulawayo on Wednesday to conduct auditions at the Rainbow Hotel ahead of the finale slated for November 25 in Harare.  Though the turnout was low as only 15 models attended, Mzembi was impressed by the quality.

“I’m impressed with the quality of girls in Bulawayo. I really think that if one of the girls isn’t the winner, she’ll make top three at the finale,” she said after the auditions.

“I won’t say names, but when we were with the scouting team, we saw one who really impressed us.”

Among those who were auditioned were Ashley Morgan, Sibusisiwe Falala, Dorothy Mathe, Merylin Ngwenya, Nokulunga Nyathi, Tendayi Sibanda, Zandile Ncube, Memory Chapinduka, Mary Anne Ncube, Confidence Musiiwa, Rebecca Ndebele and Nomaqhu Ncube.

The scouting team comprised Mzembi, former Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Lorraine Maphala-Phiri and Benjamin Chimutengo.

Mzembi also heaped praises on Maphala-Phiri who is now a businesswoman, saying she was a great example of a beauty queen.

“Lorraine was Miss Tourism Zimbabwe in 2005 and she’s an example of what pageants can do for a girl. She has started her own business and has been nominated for a business award. This shows that pageants aren’t about beauty alone, but can enhance the girl child,” said Mzembi.

She said the girls who will be selected to represent Bulawayo at the finale will be contacted next month, about two weeks before boot camp.

“We’ve auditioned over 60 girls who’ll be trimmed down to 18,” she said.

“During boot camp, we’ll trim the girls to 15 for the finale on November 25.”

She said those who may have missed regional auditions should not despair as they have a national audition that will be held in Harare on a date to be advised.

Today, the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe scouting team will be in Gweru for auditions at the ZTA offices with aspiring models from Zvishavane and the City of Progress being invited to attend. – @bonganinkunzi