Fashion designers from Harare and Bulawayo who designed the ballgowns worn by the 15 contestants in the evening wear category of the pageant have clashed with patron, Barbara Mzembi, over who owns the outfits now that the pageant is over.

“The whole thing with Mrs Mzembi and the Miss Tourism was a whole disaster,” one disappointed designer, who asked not to be named, told Zimbo Jam.

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“We had agreed that we would make the dresses for the models for the show. Before the actual event, we signed a contract that did not stipulate they would take the dresses,” said the designer.

Mrs Mzembi paid the designers US$100 to buy material and then design the outfits. However it was not made clear in the contract who would own the dresses after the event.

Some of the ballgowns created by Zimbabwean designers for the pageant. PIC: T. NDABAMBI | ZIMBOJAM.COM
Some of the ballgowns created by Zimbabwean designers for the pageant. PIC: T. NDABAMBI | ZIMBOJAM.COM

“At the moment, we are trying to get back the dresses but Mrs Mzembi is saying we need to give her back the US$100 she invested in us to make the dresses which was not even enough to make the outfit,”  said the designer.

But Mrs Mzembi has a totally different understanding of the situation. She is adamant that the designers benefited even more from the exposure they got from having their talents showcased to “over 6000” people who attended the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe grand finale and to “over millions” who watched on national TV.

In an audio clip received by Zimbo Jam, Mrs Mzembi makes the point that internationally, designers provide their own resources, make the dresses and showcase them and then repossess them after the event. However, according to the Tourism Minister’s wife, this is not the case because she actually paid the designers US$100 thus she gets to keep the dresses.

“We pay you 100 dollars for you to work on those dress, to buy material, we had profiled you to 6000 people there at the auditorium and millions watching it by streaming. I wanted to know if the value of those dress is more than that?” averred Mrs Mzembi, who says she paid the designers from her own money.

She then made a proposal to the designers, “So I think it’s fair that you refund my US$ 100 dollars and then you can take your dresses and sell it for the prices you would like to sell.”

This, the designers claim is not fair especially putting into account the costs they incurred not only to design the dresses but also to take part in the event.

More local designs at Miss Tourism Zimbabwe PIC: T. NDABAMBI | ZIMBOJAM.COM
More local designs at Miss Tourism Zimbabwe PIC: T. NDABAMBI | ZIMBOJAM.COM

“It’s very costly to make a designer dress for such a big event, most of us had to use our money to buy adequate material and not to mention transport allowance from and accommodation for those who came from outside Harare”, said one designer.

“On top of that they did not feed us or pay us for labour, they practically used us”, said the first designer.

The 2016 edition of the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe pageant, which took place on November25, saw the overall winner walking away with prizes that included US$20,000, with the first princess and second princess walking away with US$ 10,000 and US$ 5,000 respectively.