Newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Honourable Edgar Mbwembwe yesterday morning announced Government’s position on Miss Tourism Zimbabwe.
Tourism, Environment and Hospitality Industry Minister Edgar Mbwembwe Picture by Tsitsi Bertha
Speaking at the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe press briefing at The Andy Miller Hall in the Harare Showgrounds, Minister Mbwembwe said government was fully behind the pageant.
“I want to assure you that Government fully supports Miss Tourism and our expectation is that the event will continue to register great success notwithstanding the challenges of funding that you experience,” he assured.
Hon Mbwembwe was probably making his first speech as the Tourism Minister barely 24 hrs after being sworn in by President Mugabe Tuesday at the State House.
The Chikomba East Member of parliament previously served as the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and takes over from Minister Mzembi who now heads the Foreign Ministry.
His assurances allayed fears that the new appointment would somehow affect the position of Barbara Mzembi who was in 2016 appointed Miss Tourism Trust Patron by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
Hon Mbwembwe with MTZ board members, his deputy Hon Ndlovu (left) Harare Prov Minister Miriam Chikukwa, Barbara Mzembi, 2016 Winner Ashley Morgen and Spokesman Spencer Manyemba (far right) Picture by Tsisti Bertha
The Minister who was enthusiastic about the pageant urged corporates to consider investing in beauty pageants.
“We note that there is limited investment in beauty pageants in Zimbabwe, I, therefore, urge the private sector and corporates to tango with you to support the event financially and materially,” he said.
He also had some fine words of wisdom to the girls.
To the contestants, remember that the Crown that will sit upon your head sits there as a symbol of Zimbabwean beauty that denotes one who will serve communities.
Miss Tourism Trust has announced dates for this year’s finale to be held in December at the HICC in Harare.
MIss Tourism Zimbabwe 2016 top 3
The event will take place on December 9, 2017, with auditions being held from 13 to 15 October at The Andy Miller Hall, Harare Showgrounds
Delivering his speech the new Miss Tourism Zimbabwe spokesman Spencer Manyemba said the anchor sponsor for this year’s pageant had requested to remain anonymous.
This comes after last year’s sponsor severed ties with the Trust after staging what remains the most glamorous event the country has ever had.
“As you may be aware, the competition for Miss Tourism Zimbabwe was opened from 1 July until 6 September,” he said.
“To date, we have received more than 400 applications from all over Zimbabwe. Our committee will sit and go through each application with a fine eye and confirming requirements are met by each applicant in order to select those who will attend the auditions.
“We want it to be noted that our anchor Sponsor has chosen to remain anonymous, secondly we have a number of sponsors that have come on board with different packages of sponsorship,” he added.
However, some of the revealed sponsors include Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), Zimbabwe Agriculture Society (ZAS), Bella Marie, First Legal Choice, ZLG, Pro Air, Air Zimbabwe and Angels Hair.
The event was officiated by the Guest of Honour and newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Honourable Edgar Mbwembwe his Deputy AnastanciaNdhlovu and Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Hon. Mirriam Chikukwa.
Two years ago the Diamond Boys duo from Mutare had their first encounter with a proper recording studio in the capital city.
Dboi and Sparxxx – Diamond Boys
Before that all they ever knew were backyard makeshift studios back in Manicaland, the town they honed their musical skills.
That encounter ended up producing one of 2015 most played club songs called ENERGY (Zimbabwean Girl.)
Recorded at the now-defunct Kenako music, the song Energy still dominates parties, wedding and DJ playlists.
They are to face another feat, on Friday 13 October Desmond Dboi Gopo and Sparxx will take to the HICC stage to open up for two of Africa’s hottest artists right now, Jah Prayzah and Davido for “Kutonga Kwaro Album Launch.”
“This means a lot especially looking back from where we came “Kumakomoyo” and the growth that we have experienced is just incredible and mind-blowing,” said Desmond Dboi Gopo, one half of the group.
Diamond Boyz are still smarting from their Shoko Festival performance where they rocked the stage much to their amazement.
“Our huge fan base is back home in Mutare they have seen us perform live many times but we also have created a fan base in the Diaspora where we have performed live,” added Dboi.
He said fan should expect a charged performance from them as they have fully rehearsed for what could be their breakout gig.
He also spoke about their recent collaboration with Jah Prayzah: “Our recent collaboration with Jah Prayzah has proven to be a hit and is on high rotation on all major radio stations, people are loving it judging by the reviews,” he said.
Earlier this morning we reported how businessman Ginimbi was finding his old cars irritating and posted on Instagram that he was going to buy himself a new car.
This Friday 13 October is probably the most anticipated day in Zimbabwe Showbiz as Jah Prayzah will be launching his new album “Kutonga Kwaro.”
Supported by multi-award winning Nigerian artist Davido, the launch which is happening at the HICC in Harare has the city all excited.
This past week Jah Prayzah and his Third generation Team, together with his Manager Keen Mashapaidze, Nash Paints and the Environmental Management Agency went into the streets of Harare to rid it of the dirt.
They want to launch an album in a Clean City, says his manager Keen.
“We are cleaning up the city, we are painting the city clean supported by Nash Paints supported by EMA as well in preparation for the album launch on the 13th,” he said in a video posted on Facebook.
“You can only launch a good album in a City that is so clean,” says Mushapaidze.
Behind him, Fans are seen jostling to catch a glimpse of Jah Prayzah who is busy with a broom sweeping the streets.
He also urged citizens to be responsible for their own litter by picking up all the dirt in the streets, saying this will accelerate Harare’s retention of the Sun Shine City status.
Meanwhile, Davido is expected to touch down at the Harare International Airport on Thursday, the ‘Banana Fall On You’ hitmaker is bringing in a full band for the Friday Show.
Watch the video of Jah Prayzah and Nash Paints Cleaning Harare
Youthful flamboyant businessman Genius Kadungure known as Ginimbi this morning took to Instagram to show his boredom with old cars.
Ginimbi Picture – Instagram
Showing off a garage with a top of the range cars like Bentley, LUMMA Design Range Rover Sport CLR RS and another Rolls Royce, Ginimbi says he is going to buy himself a new Rolls Royce for his birthday.
He is going to do that in the next two hours, he says.
Some of his wheel collections also include a Red Bentley GT, Lamborghini amongst many.
Ginimbi has been hinting at an extravagant birthday party that he intends to host this October, not that he is new to those but every year he always comes up with a whole new level of extravagance.
A rare Zimbabwean artist who is capable of producing beats, vocals, sound effects, and deejaying simultaneously.
Better known as ProBeatz, the multi-award-winning beatboxer born as Takudzwa Mashonganyika is now on another dimension worth mentioning.
The STARBRITE 2012 special talent winner has become a benchmark to other upcoming beatboxers who dream as big as this DreamStar 2014 winner.
About a week ago the Zim finest beatboxer proved to have masters in crowd manipulation and an art for crowd-wowing at the Shoko Festival and later that same day at the Black Opal Face Of Zimbabwe (BOFOZ) final.
Probeatz joined singer Gemma Griffiths for her rendition of Winky D’s Musarova Bigman, with Gema on the keyboards and Probeatz armed with just a microphone, the outcome sent the crowd into hysteria.
As collaborations are a positive symbol of unity between artists, the WCCOPA award winner Silence Nhendere affectionately known as Sylent Nqo joined his former ZICOPA team member.
As a flexible Human Radio, Probeatz surprised the audience with his fx sound effect machine making some Reggae tunes mixes with some Garry B chants.
Hilarious it was and indeed he proved to be a natural all-rounder in art industry as he is also capable of being a comedian.
“I’m not really venturing into comedy but I do whatever I can just to keep people happy, I love keeping people entertained,” he said during a transition from an African print and urban wear ‘Youtopia’ event to a black tie Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe.
“I’m overwhelmed with the reception I’m getting and happy about it because in this industry more pressure means more progress,” he continued referring to the crazy and positive reception he is getting.
At the BOFOZ grand finale, it was not only for the cute smile of the models but the beauty of art.
Putting on a swaggering Hamba Now jacket designed by Robin Chaibva, the beatboxer mesmerised another set of audience at a completely different setup.
Businessman and founder of Nash Paints Tinashe Mutarisi was last week named as the second most Most Influential Entrepreneur Under 40 for 2017.
Nash Paints CEO Tinashe Mutarisi
The honour was bestowed by the Ngoda Business named The Ngoda List for 2017 which recognises enterprising Zimbabweans who are 40 and under.
Adjudication is done under the categories of National Relevance, Global Appeal, Social Impact, Motivation/Leadership, Economic Value, General Influence and Brand Equity amongst others.
Mr Mutarise came second to PHD founder Walter Magaya who landed the top spot.
We spoke to him about the honour and what it means for him and fellow young people.
“It is a great honour to be placed in the same category of influential business leaders and more so coming in second after Mr Magaya,” he enthused.
“All the candidates are known for their varied styles of business acumen, very successful, powerful, trendsetters and very visible to be recognised by my peers and society in this regard is very humbling.”
He was referring to fellow business people Chamu Chiwanza, Frank Buyanga, Wicknell Chivayo, Josey Mahachi, Munyaradzi Gwatidzo, Pasi William Sachiti, Maxwell Chikumbutso and Takwana Tyaranini who completes the top 10 list.
Through his brand Nash Paints, the young entrepreneur has been supportive of the arts and entertainment, supporting booming talent such as Bustop TV, Jah Prayzah’s Military touch Movement, engaging musicians like Cindy Munyavi for corporate adverts as well as partnering events such as the Alfred Kainga comedy Show.
“The Arts and Entertainment industry, believe it or not, is integral to the corporate world, Its unfortunate over the years most corporates have lost sight of this intimate relationship, he said of the Entertainment industry.
“The pillar and cornerstones of our marketing campaigns heavily rely on working hand in hand with the artists from catchy jingles and songs we use in advertising. Using familiar faces of celebrities has proven very profitable and successful for us,” added Mutarisi.
He also said his support for the industry has benefited artists through their partnership and said he will be doing more comedy shows in the future.
Being named a young influential entrepreneur comes with its own responsibilities, ones which Mr Mutarisi says he embraces with open arms.
“It is a huge responsibility and one that I accept with great pleasure,” he said.
He recalls how he wanted to be a soldier when growing up and said he for long has always wanted to be someone’s hero.
“Growing up I always wanted to be a soldier I guess I always wanted to be a hero to my people. More so for me coming from a rural background and moving to the big city as a young adult,” he recollects.
“I am grateful I found my calling and created avenues for myself and others around me to get employment.”
He speaks of the humble beginnings and the sheer endurance that saw him built a multimillion-dollar empire.
Nash Paints Headquarters
“From that one paint shop in Chitungwiza to now owning this state of the art multi-million dollar factory bears testament to what a shift in our thought patterns and ideologies should be for our country.,” said Mutarisi who has won several business accolades.
“We are young and energetic full of ideas and we are willing to challenge the status quo and show not only Zimbabweans, but the world that we are extremely creative, resilient, and are the owners of our destiny. That we must put in the work to safeguard our economy and ensure we make our country great. And create a lasting legacy.
“That we must put in the work to safeguard our economy and ensure we make our country great and create a lasting legacy,” he added.
A question was asked by one Robert Muganda during the Zim Hip-Hop Summit that why we complain that the genre is not producing hits, what are we doing with the good music that’s out there.
That statement rang true when I got my hands on this Mariachi song Shama time. It is a great Song.
It is almost difficult to produce a great song when one sticks to the familiar lane of Summer themed songs but on this track, Mariachi blends well with Finga, King Aktive, and Fun_F
Mariachi’s hibernation must have been in some hit-making incubator evidenced by this hatching gem which has an infectious hook.
The other third of the once-promising hip-hop group MMT makes a grand return with this fresh sound and we love the modern vibe and the concept.
Rapper and singer Kikky BadAss dropped her full-length release last Saturday at an exclusive launch at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Harare.
The launch which was strictly by invite had all things glamorous as she launched her project “Queen of the South”
Album opens with Kikky paying homage to the rich Harare Boys, in a song titled Boys DzeTonaz, Sir Wicknel, Chief Jose and the whole crew.
She gets help from friend Marcus Mafia, Shuver, Fucci and Jnr Brown, Like a bad ass she is, she proved to be wise beyond her years by standing head and shoulders (Or is it ass-tall) with the boys.
She begins with a simple lyric: “Without a remote but I’m in control.”
In control, she was as she never was outshone by the boys on her song.
Juggling vocal duties between singing and rapping she lets in on the track Secrets featuring in-demand South African based producer/rapper Gt beats as she tackles the reality of infidelity by playing devil’s advocate, she invites herself into the arms of a secret lover.
Kikky has a conflicting personality and can never be put in a box of predictability and with this offing, she proved she indeed has that Ghetto hustling spirit.
She hustles her creative genius by summoning her RnB, Pop, Rap and dancehall prowess into one song titled ‘Limited edition’
Again Limited Edition is a song for the lovers (ok, I’m just avoiding the word sex) she samples 2003 chart topper Turn Me On by Kevin Lyttle.
The whole album is Kikky taking ownership of her Ghetto roots but in doing so she sends a loud gun banging sound and declares herself Queen of the South.
Kikky BadAss Pic- Instagram
For those who might not be aware, (Harare) Hip Hop has a distinct boundary between what is called North Samora and South Samora.
Samora being the road named after former Mozambican President Samora Machel, the road almost serves as a boundary between the North (Leafy Suburbs) and South (Ghetto High density)
A story for another day.
She is fearless to push the boundaries thus there’s the element of her music having uniformity around sexually explicit lyrics yet very clever and genius.
Like in the song Bata Pasi which features Fucci and Marcus she challenges her dance partner to “show me that you are naughty because we came here to party”
The album also takes a shot at rap nemesis Tiara Baluti in a couple of songs but mainly in the song Strive Masiyiwa.
She let loose the trigger by asking “See I don’t know why strippers (Tiara’s former profession ) feel they can come for me, this is not your territory this is hip hop ”
The 13 track album contains a blockbuster collaboration featuring Nigerian rapper and songwriter Ycee and produced by one of Africa’s best producers WizzyProbeatz who also produces for Patoranking.
Ultimately Kikky BadAss has a number one contender for the Zim Hip Hop Best Female Award and also a shot for Best Album.
A very fearless yet innovative project for modern hip-hop, The Album Queen of the South draws the line in the sand as Kikky separates herself from her contemporaries by creating her own runway.
Her flow and cadence are second to none, the kind of ingenuity that causes one to crown themselves Queen.
When she released the much talked about video to Body Conversations, the sentiment was that she would need to prove herself more.
This piece shows she is not a pushover and will remain a key figure in Zim Hip Hop for some time to come.
If you missed her Body Conversations video, Watch it Hear
