Participants starve, forced to endure cold weather

THE recently-held Miss Gweru Universities pageant is turning out to be a folly, as contestants of the pageant held in the City of Progress at Midlands State University are accusing organisers of the pageant of ill-treatment and taking them for a ride.

Organisers of the show — Munetsi Promotions, which cannot be traced for comment are alleged to have promised the winner of the pageant $300 cash, among other prizes.

The show was held at Midlands State University on 12 May and organisers of the event are alleged to have vanished soon after the show to date. In an interview, one of the participants said she was deeply concerned about the ill-treatment and abuse they faced.

“. . . I wouldn’t say I’m proud of the position (I got), because we really didn’t finish all the categories. They were quick to judge on two categories, after that they wanted to tell us that one of the models was wrong, after all ndivo vakanga vamuudza the results. It was wrong from the start, they prioritised the artistes over us, it wasn’t our show at all, they made it yana Soul Jah Love and Freeman, I’m really disappointed with the organisers and also in Freeman, he was very inconsiderate, asking audience if they wanted models or him, refusing to give us little space to just finish our show,” said one model, adding that the organisers should be brought to book.

Another model who requested anonymity said they had to endure hours of cold weather before they could get on stage.

“It was very cold, we got sick, waiting for artistes to perform. They made us look like we don’t value ourselves, making us get on stage at 4am when the show started at 6pm the previous night. They lied about the grand prize, to lure us into their trap, using