Miss Gweru embarks on new campaign

By Nyasha Chingono

GWERU – Barely a month into her reign, Miss Gweru, Tapuwanashe Arimuzhu has decided to embark on an environmental awareness campaign meant to educate residents on the advantages of keeping the environment clean.

“I have realised that my predecessors have always done charity work as a means of giving back to the community, but I believe keeping our environment clean would translate to healthy living,” Arimuzhu told the Weekend Post.

The 23-year-old beauty said charity work was a noble thing since thousands of families were living in abject poverty, but there was a need to educate households on how to keep the environment clean.

“My plan is to do charity work, coupled with an environmental awareness project around the city of Gweru,” she said.

Arimuzhu who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies at the Midlands State University (MSU) believes her knowledge in environmental studies will help the Gweru community appreciate their surroundings.

As part of the campaign, Arimuzhu plans to impart knowledge at local schools which she hopes would be a reservoir of knowledge for future generations.

Zimbabwe, among other sub-Saharan countries has been affected by climate change which has changed the country’s seasonal patterns; and general livelihood.

Knowledge pertaining to mechanisms to minimise the effects of global warming still falls short of what is expected.

The Gweru beauty, who beat 10 other girls at the recently held Miss Gweru finals, wants to prove that models are also brainy as compared to the poor showcase by models when they are required to answer simple questions like stating what ZimAsset stands for.

“People think we are dull, but I think it is just nerves that would have taken the better of models on the ramp. It is possible to be bright and still be a good model,” she said.

Arimuzhu only started professional modelling last year at Miss Midlands Hotel where she was the first princess. She would like to pursue her studies to defy the myth that models are opportunists.

Although Arimuzhu felt she could not qualify, since she is about 1,6m tall, the issue of height did not pull her down.

“I always felt I could not qualify because of my height, but my friends encouraged me to try modelling and it is a success story,” she said.

Hailing from the heart of Zimbabwe, the model has no intentions of moving to other cities, but plans to develop modelling in the city.

“Modelling is not given much support by corporates, but I would like to help other girls realise their dream and become anything that they imagine,” Arimuzhu said.

Youngsters like the Arimuzhu would bring a difference into the modelling fraternity, with their fresh minds bringing hope to a sedentary Gweru. Weekend Post