Miss Blantyre to get car prize this week
Five months after being crowned Miss Blantyre, Chisomo Machero is finally expected to receive her prize, a car from Yanga.co, this week.
Yanga.co executive director Ernest Kapeleta confirmed in an interview, that the delay to give the queen her prize was due to logistical challenges.
“We have to admit that we have delayed the presentation of the car to Miss Blantyre. But Yanga has [so far] fulfilled other promises such as her monthly stipends,” said Kapeleta, emphasising that the car will be presented this week.
The grand prize for the Miss Blantyre winner was two ambassadorship roles: Keep Blantyre Clean and Green & Online Education Platforms, which had also a vehicle benefit and monthly stipends courtesy of Yanga.co from Lilongwe.
The chairperson of the Miss Blantyre pageant Daniel Ngwira, said the delay of the car prize raised eyebrows and affected the reputation of the rebranded Miss Blantyre.
“I can confirm that they have honoured monthly allowances for the queen from January to date, which was part of their pledge. About the car, we met them and got confirmation they will drive it to Blantyre this week. But this is long overdue. We are not happy with the delay but circumstances behind it are something Yanga should explain better,” said Ngwira.
He said first and second princesses Vanessa Chiutsi and Tunosiwe Mwakalinga got their prizes and also signed a contract with Premier Coach Service.
Ngwira also said the city queen has been engaged in some activities such as tree planting initiative by the Blantyre City Council for the past months.
“And as an ambassador for Keep Blantyre Clean & Green, she has also supported the Saint Andrews Valentine’s Youth Fashion show apart from being a judge at the Miss Zomba pageant in December last year,” he said.
Machero was also reported to have supported the setting up an office for Yanga at Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds in Blantyre. She was crowned Miss Blantyre on November 6 last year at College of Medicine Sports Complex, Blantyre. n
