SYDNEY MUBAIWA
MASVINGO-Miss Ebony Zimbabwe director Bridget Mawarire is in the eye of a storm for allegedly not paying models and support staff agreed fees after the event.
Bridget is accused of swindling the models of more than US$10 000 according to sources who spoke to The Midweek Watch on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization although she denies that the event went ahead as planned.
Accommodation and ancillary staff are owed US$3 840, models were promised over US$1000 each and the winner a Vitz Toyota new shape and cash prize.
The pageant was held at the upmarket resort of Mudziyashe in Glen Lorne, Harare on March 28 according to the sources.
“Pageants should promote personal development, cultural values, confidence, character and leadership not all this play in the park.
“Miss Ebony Zimbabwe must do better and stick to promises and deliver their promises. How do they expect people to take the industry seriously if they are taking the contest for personal gain,” said te source.
The source said all the models paid entry fees but they walked home empty handed.
“Miss Ebony Zimbabwe had an entry fee each model paid. A voting platform which made lots of money out of the models. Models paid for their own outfits and transportation to and from the boot camp, only to go back home as winners empty handed.
“What happened to the cash and car prizes promised to the winners. Imagine promising cash and car prizes just to get exposure and money from contestants. It was not a beauty pageant but a business scam wrapped in glam. You crown Queens not clowns. Some of the models come from very poor backgrounds where their parents are vegetable vendors and they went through a lot to raise money to buy costumes and bus fare to attend the boot camp and modelling show,” said the source.
The source called upon the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to create a pageant accreditation board that would regulate the industry to deter bogus promoters.
“I recommend that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture should have a pageant accreditation board that would license and regulate pageants operating in Zimbabwe so that contestants would be able to forward their complaints to the board. We desperately need an organisation like that,” added the source.
The Miss Ebony finals, which were held on March 28 were marred with a number of challenges after the models were kicked out of their lodgings over unpaid bills.
Another source who declined to be named said all the winners were yet to receive their prize money.
“All the participants and event organisers including photographers haven’t been paid yet.
“The event faced a myriad of challenges that significantly affected its execution.
“Models were forced to leave their lodgings over unpaid bills,” she said.
According to a postmortem report availed by the sources, the pageant owe boot camp accommodation at Madziyashe US$1 350, Rockers Island, stage light, generator US$180, MC US$300 and other individuals over US$1 500.
The total amount owed by the modelling agent is US$3 840.
However, the models say they have been pressured to sign some contracts and declaration forms which bind them not to file complaints or even speak to the media.
The source said Miss Ebony Zimbabwe 2025, Chengeto Kanyai along with 1st Princess Samukele Dlamini and 2nd Princess Lerato Masocha haven’t been paid their prizes.
Mawarire defended herself saying the event was nullified following the March 31 demonstrations.
She said they only resorted to name winners without any contest, a comment which raised suspicions over the credibility and value of pageantry in the country.
“As we speak, there is no winner in the Miss Ebony beauty pageant which could not kick off as a result of the Blessed Geza 31 March demonstrations. So no one is going to be paid because the event could not happen.
“As such, we are going to handpick only one model to represent the country in South Africa,” she said.
