Miss Botswana auditions begin
Sharon Mathala | Tuesday May 24, 2016 10:42
Held at Riley’s Hotel Showbiz is reliably informed that only four women turned up for the auditions. This was confirmed by one of the judges, Botswana Council of Women (BCW) chairperson, Dorcus Thobega.
She said: “Although this is considered a low turn out, in areas outside the cities, we have gotten low numbers over the years because would-be queens are university students, mostly found in the cities”.
Thobega rubbished claims of late and poor advertising for the low turn out in some areas. Following the Maun auditions, judges would be heading to Francistown on May 28, 2016. They would also hold auditions in Palapye (June 4), Selebi Phikwe (June 5) and Lobatse on June 11.
The final auditions would be held in Gaborone on June 18 and 19. The judging panel includes Bogadi Ngwako, Tlhomamo Diamond, Thobega and a male judge who will join the panel at a later stage.
When the minister announced that the ministry would be ‘taking over the pageant’ questions lingered over what had happened to the contract between The Hamptons event promoters, Limkokwing and BCW. The three were in a partnership at last year’s event following a two-year hiatus.
Showbiz can confirm that the contract was signed for a duration of a year, which was to end on July 13, 2016.
“There is no bad blood. The contract was only to run for a year, and with Limkokwing they were just a sponsor,” Thobega said.
The final pageant is scheduled for July 29, at the Gaborone International Convection Centre.