Interview with Miss TZ Samantha Tshuma

She rose to the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2010 title and her life has never been the same. She walked away with a Lexus, new-found popularity and a lot more. Now she is so big someone has created a fake Facebook profile in her name. The Sunday Mail’s CHARLES MUSHINGA sat with Samantha Tshuma to see how she is coping four months into her reign . . . read on.

CHARLES MUSHINGA: (Downstairs at the ZTA offices) Samantha, hi. I’m Charles, Sunday Mail.

SAMANTHA TSHUMA: Charles Mushinga! Hi, we are supposed to have an interview at . . .

CM: Right now actually. (Getting into the elevator) I hope you are not about to disappoint me again.

ST: No, it’s just that yesterday I wasn’t . . .

CM: Feeling so well, so I heard when I came here. Samantha (Dika, Miss Tourism Harare) told me you promised to try and get well in time for today’s interview.

ST: LOL, that’s funny. So, what is this interview about?

CM: Well, I wasn’t ready to be asked questions. The truth is I don’t know. I think it started when we met actually. It’s going to be about everything.

ST: (Outside the elevator) This way, Charles.

CM: Thanks. So, what was troubling Miss Tourism Zimbabwe?

ST: Just a slight tummy ache, nothing huge.

CM: Wow, I thought Vanessa (2009 Miss Tourism Zimbabwe) was tall, but YOU!

ST: I know, I’m 1,83 metres tall! That’s six feet.

CM: LOL, that reminds me of graves and burials.

ST: Same here, LOL. Here, take a seat. This is our boardroom.

CM: Cool, it’s big and . . . executive, lovely leather seats. My first time in here, like this is your first time in Harare?

ST: Well, I had been in Harare a few times but this is my first time staying here for a long time and meeting all the Harare people and visiting places like Mbare and all.

CM: Mbare, that must have made an impression!

ST: It did. It certainly is, erhh, busy. It’s much like Makokoba in Bulawayo, only bigger.

CM: You should post pictures of you in such places on your Facebook cause . . .

ST: About Facebook, let me say this again. That is NOT my account!

CM: WHAT!? So you mean? But that account has scanned pictures of you at your crowning and in the Press after the crowning.

ST: I know, I have seen it. But I never created a Facebook account. It’s probably someone close to me ’cause the information on the profile is all correct. I don’t know what I can do to tell the world that someone is impersonating me. I can’t even access that account cause I don’t have the passwords.

CM: Well, I’m sure you can report for their account to be blocked or something. I’m going to kindly write on “your” wall and tell whoever is masquerading as you to stop. Fat chance, I know!
But perhaps it comes with the reign. Who were you before becoming Miss TZ?

ST: I was studying marketing management and I was also about to start studying art.

CM: Art?

ST: Yes, I love it. I haven’t sketched in a long while but drawing has always been a passion.

CM: So you decided to be a model soon after realising you were tall and beautiful?

ST: Well, to be honest, I hated my height growing up. I couldn’t walk up straight cause I felt too visible. So you can be tall and pretty but you also have to be intelligent. And by intelligent I do not mean degreed. My father, for example, is one of the most intelligent people I know. He is a director but he only went to school up to Grade 6. So intelligence is not a document that one carries around. It is an ability to circumvent the pressures and troubles we come across in life and to be successful in the routes we choose.

CM: Well spoken, you did a lot of that back at Evelyn High School?

ST: Public speaking? Not really, I was a very shy person, but being Miss Tourism has forced me to stand up to speak to the public, to you journalists and your very impromptu questions, to very big people like ministers, Mai Mujuru all the way up to His Excellency, The President. I have no option than to drop shyness.

CM: So you will confidently tell me if there is a man in Miss Tourism’s life and who it is?

ST: At times comments on a subject like this one can come back to haunt me so . . .

CM: I know, with how you have started that reply that you will not tell me anything. Relationship matters are often scoops for journalists if they involve national beauties. That keeps you under pressure, hey?

ST: Not at all, I have always loved staying away from things that I know are bad, way before I was Miss Tourism. I have always been a clean person.

CM: Daring. That should motivate many a journalist to dig stuff, but you sound confident. How’s the Lexus?

ST: It’s still as lovely. Still enjoy being inside it like I did the first day. The feeling of knowing it’s mine is still as wonderful.

CM: You didn’t have a licence when you got it.

ST: No I did not.

CM: Now?

ST: Not really.

CM: LOL, I’m going to send the police after you, unlicensed driver!

ST: Do, but they will find me with a driver.

CM: Chauffeur-driven? What a life. And there is more to being Miss Tourism too, I know, like the travelling?

ST: Yes, I’ve been all over Zimbabwe and also to Botswana, Malawi and South Africa, so far.

CM: And soon the DRC?

ST: Yes, how did you know? I’m going there on Wednesday and should be back Monday (tomorrow). They are commemorating the 50th anniversary of their independence.

CM: And the personal designers?

ST: Yes, I work with Tafadzwa in Bulawayo and for my gowns I have Hillary — I’m a very ethnic person and she makes lovely gowns like that.

CM: The limelight also has embarrassing moments?

ST: True, I remember one, at the airport when I was with Michelle Gonah (Miss G-Tide). We couldn’t remember (co-Home Affairs Minister) Cde Kembo Mohadi’s name. I knew him, but the name just would not come, it was very embarrassing!

CM: Soon the stage is going to be even bigger!

ST: Miss World! yes, huge. I’m going to be contesting against over 112 beauties from all over the world. The best thing about it for me will certainly be meeting all these different people and getting a chance to tell the true Zimbabwe story.

CM: It’s in Vietnam this year, right? How are the preparations?

ST: Very demanding. It’s only happening in November, but I already feel the pressure. But I’m getting a lot of help from ZTA, my family, well-wishers and people like Salome (ZTA) and Sarah (Mpofu).

CM: There is still a lot to talk about but let’s save it for another day lest we are locked here. Thanks, Samantha.

ST: My pleasure, Charles.

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