The Sunday News
Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
Barely a month in her reign as the Miss Gweru 2016, Form Six student Courtney Venencia Matende is aiming high.
The 18-year-old high school beauty was crowned the new Miss Gweru recently after shrugging off stiff competition from the other 13 contestants. Matende says her vision is to assist the underprivileged though charity work. “There are many orphans in the City of Gweru who face financial challenges.
There are also mothers who lack the financial ability to provide for their children. I want to assist such people by starting projects that will equip them with practical skills they can use in life. With the help of my sponsors I will also donate gardening tools and sewing machines,” said Matende.
The teen beauty also said that she will embark on Environmental Awareness Campaign to keep the City of Progress clean.
“I also aim to educate Gweru residents on keeping the city clean through a Environmental Awareness campaign. I am very much troubled about the litter that lies all over the city thereby threatening the health of residents. Kudzanayi Bus Terminus on its own poses a health hazard to residents. With the help of organisations like EMA, the clean-up campaign will make a huge impact,” she added.
Matende said she will also work very hard in empowering the girl child.
“I want to educate and assist the girl child, especially those faced with challenges like early child marriages and child abuse. I will partner with organisations like Msasa Project, ZWLA and Tag A Life in empowering the girl child,” she said.
Matende is currently doing her Upper Six at Thornhill High School and she is studying Divinity, History, Literature in English and English Language Communication skills.
