Time was when Albinos were seen as people from outer space. Not any more. The stigmatization which they suffered for decades has crumbled. Now, Zimbabwe has blazed the trail. The country has crowned Africa’s first Miss Albinism 2018, in the person of 22-year old Sithembiso Mutukura. The pageant, tagged beauty beyond the skin, seeks to create awareness on albinism.
Miss Mutukura, a social work student at the University of Zimbabwe beat 12 other contestants to cart home the sum of eight hundred and fifty dollars prize money. Mutukura said, “We must continue to advocate for our rights and I hope my win will empower the girl-child. People with disability must not look down upon themselves.”
The Miss Albinism pageant was organised by Brenda Mudzimu Chivbongodze, who is living with albinism. Brenda, who was raised in a family of four children, always had a passion for mentoring children with albinism and help enlighten the society. She started Miss Albinism Zimbabwe to spearhead advocacy for people living with albinism in Zimbabwe. The mission of the pageant is to give people living with albinism confidence, and a sense of pride.
The event could not take place last year due to funding. The event is flagged to be an annual event. With such initiatives, it is hoped that awareness on albinism will increase, and the stigma against albinos will reduce.
It is widely known that albinos have been the targets for ritual killings in many parts of the continent, especially in Tanzania and Mozambique.
END (Pix – See Miss Albinism in allafrica.com)
