BOTSWANA: Miss Botswana 2016 Queens Receive Prizes

The Ministry of Youth, Sport & Culture (MYSC)have handed all the prizes to the Miss Botswana 2016 queen and her runner-ups.

The prize handover ceremony was held on Thursday at Cresta Lodge. In the past years, it has been an uphill battle for the pageant winners to receive their dues. We can only hope that this will now be the norm and that the sponsors who heeded the call to support this pageant will also help other worthy causes in the arts with the same zeal and passion.

Miss Botswana 2016, Thata Kenosi, who is scheduled to depart for the Miss World international pageant to be held in Washington, DC in November, walked away with a dozen prizes that include P300 000.00 cash prize from the MYSC, diamond jewellery valued at P70 000 courtesy of Diamond Trading Centre and Debswana, medical and travel insurance worth P2 million from Symphony Health, business class tickets from Ethiopian Airlines, jewellery from Malaika line, sunglasses, a weekend for two in Cape Town and Sun City, gym membership for a year with Virgin Active, a beauty package by Boutas Acqua Spa, shoes by Gazellas, a Mascom tablet, and a scholarship to study at Limkokwing Creative University in Malaysia, as well as P1.5 million life cover. The beautiful 21 year-old University of Botswana will compete with 120 other hopefuls from across the world at the Miss World pageant.

The first princess Bonnie Kamona walked away with P150 000 cheque from MYSC, P50 000 worth of diamond jewellery compliments of DTCB and Debswana, make-up hampers, sunglasses, as well as scholarship to study at Limkokwing (Gaborone).

Phatsimo Baoagi, the second princess, received a P35 000 cheque from MYSC, sponsorship to study at Limkokwing (Gaborone), three month gym voucher compliments of Virgin Active. The top nine were given complimentary prizes that include P7 000 cheque.

ZIMBABWE: Vic Falls Safari Lodge Scoops Top Award 19 Years In A Row

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (VFSL) has been voted the best resort hotel for the 19th consecutive year by the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA), thereby cementing its position firmly at the top of the hospitality industry.

The lodge is a flagship property of Africa Albida Tourism (AAT).

Another AAT property, Lokuthula Lodges in Victoria Falls, again won the best self-catering award. The group’s marketing executive Wendy Bourne won the award for the most outstanding voluntary service to travel agents.

The annual AZTA awards, which reward airlines, lodges, agents and companies for service excellence, as voted by the Zimbabwe travel industry, were presented at Wild Geese Lodge in Harare recently.

VFSL was awarded best resort hotel, ahead of the Victoria Falls Hotel, which took second place, and A’Zambezi River Lodge, which came third.

Lokuthula Lodges won the best self-catering award ahead of Victoria Falls Rest Camp and Antelope Park placed second and third respectively.

AAT chief executive Ross Kennedy said given the increasingly competitive environment in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and the region, along with difficult trading conditions, the group was honoured and delighted to once again receive these awards from AZTA members.

“The entire AAT team strives to deliver wonderful experiences and holidays to our guests from across the world and this recognition is very satisfying and rewarding for us all,” he said.

“To see Wendy Bourne once again recognised for her ever-present energy, commitment and selfless dedication to the industry is a source of great pride for AAT, and an award she so richly deserves.”

Other award winners included Meikles Hotel for best city hotel, with Cresta Lodge and Bronte Hotel taking second and third place respectively, while the award for best boutique hotel went to Pamushana Lodge.

Ballantynes Lodge won the best bed and breakfast/guesthouse, while Amanzi Lodge and Highlands Lodge took second and third place respectively.