What should have been Roseanna Hall’s crowning moment as Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 was overshadowed by an unexpected stage invasion from former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa, whose decision to shower the newly crowned queen with US dollar notes quickly became the night’s most talked-about moment.
Moments after Hall was crowned in the early hours of Sunday, Mliswa joined her on stage and began throwing US$100 notes into the air in what appeared to be a celebratory gesture.
Instead of enhancing the occasion, the stunt diverted attention away from the winner and immediately sparked criticism on social media.
In international beauty pageants, a winner’s crowning moment is typically carefully choreographed to keep the spotlight firmly on the queen. Photographers and television cameras focus on capturing iconic images as confetti falls and celebrations unfold.
At the Zimbabwe pageant, however, attention shifted from Hall’s achievement to Mliswa’s actions, with many viewers questioning whether the display was appropriate for a national beauty competition.
Comedian and digital content creator Taffy Theman was among those who criticised the incident.
“Moments after the winner was crowned, Temba Mliswa began throwing money over her. No action was taken to stop him,” he wrote on social media, arguing that the gesture appeared misplaced in a professional setting.
“They just let him kongonya around her like a dollar sprinkling uncle at a village wedding. The queen tried to hide her embarrassment behind a smile but that fragile and strained smile displayed the weight of her discomfort.
“Throwing money may be a known Zimbabwean practice at celebrations but in that professional setting, it looked misplaced and deeply embarrassing, especially for the winner. Chirauro hachingokandwe pese pese Bhuru!” Taffy wrote.
Political commentator Dr Blessing Vava also weighed in, using the controversy to question the direction of Zimbabwean beauty pageants and their growing association with politics.
“Since ZANU PF and Zviganandas (corrupt elite) captured the Miss Universe Zimbabwe pageant, the event lost its lustre at a national level.
“What used to unite Zimbabweans across political lines now feels partisan. When pageants become political branding tools instead of platforms for talent, culture, and national pride, the whole country loses.
“A while ago all, we used to know who Miss Zimbabwe was, I recall the days of Angeline Musasiwa, Loreen Sibanda, Dione Best, Annette Kambarami etc, any ordinary person aitoziva.
“Not many know the outgoing Miss Zim, the only time we got to know her was when she was following IshowSpeed akazonyadziswa kubhawa achiteera mwana.
“Zanu PF (ruling party) please, not everything should be politicized. Zvese kuma comedy, kubhora murikuvhiringidza.
“Some spaces need to stay national — where a girl from Mutare or kwedu ku Chipinge ku Chikore and a girl from Plumtree kwa Madlambuzi can compete for the same crown, not party colors.
“Beauty, culture, and youth potential deserve better than political capture. Saka ibvai pazvinhu zve wanhu…. ” Vava wrote on Facebook.
The Mliswa incident was not the only challenge faced by organisers during the evening.
Earlier in the competition, confusion erupted during the announcement of the Top 10 finalists. Audience members and viewers watching the livestream were left puzzled when hosts Zozibini Tunzi and Tich Mataz appeared to halt proceedings midway through the announcement.
After several finalists had already been revealed, Mataz briefly left the stage for consultations before returning to inform the audience that judges required more time to finalise their figures.
When the hosts returned, they restarted the entire Top 10 announcement process from the beginning, raising questions over whether the judging panel had completed its deliberations before the results were read out.
The production also struggled to manage the crowning of seven national titleholders during the same event.
Transitions between outgoing queens and newly crowned winners frequently appeared disjointed, with several contestants seemingly unsure when to walk, pose or take their place on stage.
Despite the organisational hiccups, the pageant successfully selected Zimbabwe’s representatives for major international competitions.
Virginia Nyambe was crowned Miss Intercontinental Zimbabwe 2026, Jemima Mandemwa won Top Model of the World Zimbabwe 2026, Nicole Nyawera secured the Miss Supranational Zimbabwe 2026 title, Malaika Mushandu became Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe 2026, Ruvimbo Njomboro won Miss International Zimbabwe 2026, Brunette Makanyiso was crowned Miss World Zimbabwe 2026, while Roseanna Hall walked away with the Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 crown.
Hall and Makanyiso are expected to receive Mercedes-Benz vehicles and cash prizes, while the remaining titleholders will receive Honda Fit vehicles and sponsor packages.
Outgoing Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 Lyshanda Moyas also enjoyed a memorable farewell after receiving a twin-cab vehicle from a Chinese company during the event.
While organisers succeeded in crowning Zimbabwe’s next beauty ambassadors, many observers believe the night will be remembered as much for its controversies as for the winners themselves.
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