By Sifelani Tsiko
Harare,Zimbabwe, (Dec 21 2006) A 23-year-old elegant school teacher Caroline Marufu from Zimbabwe's second largest city Bulawayo won the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe crown at a glittering ceremony which was held in the capital recently.

Bulawayo, known as the City of Kings (Where King Lobengula of the Ndebele people had his quarters in the past) retained the prestigious Miss Tourism Zimbabwe crown for the third time after Caroline clinched the 2006 title which Oslie Muringai took in 2004 and Lorraine Tsoanelo Maphala clinched in 2005.

Caroline could have blown this chance away had she not summoned courage and  confidence after she dropped a microphone while telling the expectant crowd about why they should visit the scenic and historical Matopo Hills near Bulawayo, about 420km south of Harare.

"There were girls who were equally good but I won. It's so unbelievable," said an ecstatic Caroline who won ZWD$5 million and assortment of other prizes.

"When it (microphone) fell I was so scared, but I told myself to relax and I did just that and when the mic was handed to me I was composed and finished my speech."

She added: "They were professional, intelligent, stunning girls and I said to myself, I am in for a tough competition. But I also told myself I had what those girls had so let the race begin."

Caroline is a teacher at Sawmills Secondary School near Bulawayo.
She beat 31 other contestants from the country's 10 provinces and others from the Diaspora to clinch the title which enable her to represent Zimbabwe at the Miss World competition.

Mitchelle Makanza (18) from Harare was the first princess while Vongai Mushowe from the eastern border city of Mutare was crowned the second princess.

The two got ZWD$3 million and ZWD$2 million respectively.
Shuvai Murumbi (23) from Harare was the third princess and won the ticket to represent Zimbabwe at the Miss Universe World pageant.

20-year-old Muslin Rhodah Nousenga was the fourth princess and she won the right to represent Zimbabwe at the Miss Bikini World competitions.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Air Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe International Travel Services will pay for all the expenses of the winners to the world competitions.

It was a memorable event panctuated with drama,  fashion and powerful romantic rhythms from the late Afro-jazz legend Jabu Khanyile's hit song Mmalowe.

Mmalowe is a powerful love song which talks about the beauty of African women who are firmly rooted in their culture and takes a swipe at the fleeting 'snobbish' love or the beauty of what in Zimbabwe is known as love 'yemasalads.' (young urbanites who love everything American -movies, fashion, fast foods and the American accent)

These are often castigated by African traditionalists as superficial, fleeting and without roots.
Beauty pageants are now becoming popular in Zimbabwe and across Africa as route to fame and fortune for many young girls.

Caroline is now in a quandary on whether she will continue teaching or take a year off from teaching to pursue her dreams as Zimbabwe's beauty ambassador -telling what Zimbabwe which is reeling under economic sanctions has to offer to the world.