MINIYOTHABO Baloyi-Chiwenga, the wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, has been appointed as the new chairperson of Miss Universe Zimbabwe, marking Zimbabwe’s return to the international beauty pageant scene after a long absence. This announcement comes after Brooke Bruk Jackson represented the country at the Miss Universe pageant last year.
The organization recently held a launch event to introduce the upcoming edition of the event, where Baloyi-Chiwenga was unveiled as the new chairperson. During the event, she commended Brooke Bruk for her performance at the pageant in El Salvador last year.
The upcoming edition of Miss Universe Zimbabwe, where Brooke Bruk will crown her successor, is set to begin on April 20. The top 30 contestants will be revealed on May 18, with the finale scheduled for the same day.
Baloyi-Chiwenga, a 46-year-old army colonel, is known for her successful business ventures, including running high-end boutiques in Harare under the brand Style By Minnie.
She is also recognized for her linguistic abilities, being fluent in six languages including Mandarin, French, and Zulu. Additionally, she serves as a government linguist/Chinese translator, Chinese lecturer at Zimbabwe Staff College, and Mandarin Business lecturer at Harare Institute of Technology.
Interestingly, the former wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, Marry Mubaiwa, holds the license for Miss World Zimbabwe. Mubaiwa has faced criticism from industry peers for allegedly exerting control over the pageant. She took over as the patron of Miss Zim Trust in 2012, succeeding Kiki Divaris. The last Miss World Zimbabwe event took place in 2018 and was won by Belinda Potts.
In the past, there has been controversy surrounding the involvement of military and political officials in the Miss World Zimbabwe pageant. Critics have argued that such involvement detracts from the glamour and sophistication typically associated with beauty pageants worldwide. Notable figures, including army officials and government ministers, have been known to attend these events.
Mubaiwa is currently facing legal proceedings for allegedly attempting to harm Chiwenga while he was receiving medical treatment in South Africa. Despite these challenges, the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organization, under the leadership of Baloyi-Chiwenga, is poised to showcase the beauty and talent of Zimbabwean women on the global stage.
