Government has ruled out any plans to ban or suspend an annual beauty pageantry christened ‘Miss Tanzania’, because it gives girls access to local and international showbiz markets.
Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr Fenella Mukangara
Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Fenella Mukangara told the National Assembly that local girls have also discovered their talents in taking part in fashion shows naming Miss Tanzania of 2001, Happiness Magesse, who plies her trade in South Africa and the US as a best example.
“Girls who take part in the pageant are trained in becoming confident and exploit their talents in show business,” Mukangara argued when responding to a question posed by Chonga lawmaker (CUF), Haroub Mohamed Shamis, who wanted to know why the government has allowed the annual event after suspending it in 1960s.
She further pointed out that the girls who win the pageantry help promote the country’s tourist attractions when participating at the global even held abroad.
In a supplementary question, Shamis wondered how last year’s winner of the event, Brigitte Alfred failed to express herself in Kiswahili when she visited parliament.
“How does someone who can’t speak the national language promote our tourist potentials?” Shamis demanded to know. Mukagara argued that Brigitte is competent young lady who is fluent in both Kiswahili and English.
“I don’t know what really happened that day because I have talked to her and she is fluent in Kiswahili,” the minister argued.
Meanwhile the government will reinstate the annual inter-schools performing arts competition starting next year. Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Philip Mulugo told the House yesterday when responding to Sumve legislator (CCM), Richard Ndassa regarding reasons behind suspension of the annual event.
Mulugo pointed out that performing arts and traditional dances will resume next year and will also involve students from different colleges.
“The government recognizes that sports and performing arts are a source of employment and will continue encouraging youths to take part from school to national level,” the deputy minister, who is also Songwe legislator (CCM), said.
With the number of secondary schools increasing from 800 a decade ago to over 4000, the annual intersecondary school games and sports competition will be a big event where different talents will be unveiled.
By FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE, Tanzania Daily News
