ORGANISERS may be struggling to mobilise the US$500,000 needed to pull off a successful pageant, but Zimbabweans can today get a tester of what’s to come as we reveal the 34 contestants vying for the Miss Zimbabwe crown.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) hosted the last six pageants, but pulled out last year and handed over the event to the franchise holder Kiki Divaris citing rising costs and adverse publicity.

The Miss Zimbabwe Trust has however struggled to raise the massive bill. They were forced to move the pageant from the original date of February 25 to March 23.

A new management team in charge of the pageant says the 34 girls will go into boot camp in Harare on March 9, with the rehearsals set for March 16 and pre-judging March 21.

The new management team consists of Pascal Kwaramba (Unique Media and Executive Producer), Gerald Mashonga (Unique Media and Spokesperson), Yvonne Chiwara (Preliminaries Co-ordinator), Gary Thompson (Marketing & Communications Consultant), Paxina Kalulu (Miss Zimbabwe Trust), Shamiso Ruzvidzo (Consultant) and patron, Kiki Divaris.

At a breakfast to launch a sponsorship appeal last week, the Miss Zimbabwe Trust pulled all stops as it paraded past queens including Brita Masalethulini, Osley Muringai, Langelihle Sibanda and Malaika Mushandu.