One of the most anticipated events, earlier controversies notwithstanding, Miss Rwanda 2014 left a lot to be desired.

Beauty and fashion enthusiasts took to social networking sites to highlight the flaws that marked the national beauty pageant, mainly time wasting and questionable judges’ decisions.

Nevertheless, a winner was ultimately announced, even though she was not clearly the crowd’s favourite. Colombe Akiwacu beat 14 other girls, including the fans’ choice Carmen Akineza, to the title.

The big question is whether the government will continue pumping taxpayers’ money into such poorly organised events. Ministry of Sports and Culture (Minispoc) officials were tightlipped about the cost of the pageant.

While the judges’ decision is final, the organisers have questions to answer in terms of how the event was organised and time management.

The heavily publicised event left those who filled up Petit Stade in Remera or watched it on television waiting for the decision for longer than necessary.

Besides starting one and a half hours behind schedule, it took many hours before the country could know who the new Miss Rwanda was. By the time Ms Akiwacu was announced winner, way past 1am, many in the audience had walked out of the venue as the judges deliberated for a long time.

Many people took to Facebook and Twitter to express their frustrations. It seemed the judges’ panel, made up of leader Wilson Ruyenzi, Jolie Murenzi, Judo Kanobana, Winnie Ngamije and Paula Mupfasoni, could not agree.

Simple and repeat questions

When Minispoc handed the management of the Miss Rwanda franchise to Rwanda Inspiration Back-Up Ltd and East African Promoters it was hoped that organisation would improve.

Pre-selection events went well, save for language gaffes. This raised false hopes for the finale.

“The producer of the whole event messed up everything, and it didn’t look like an event organised at national level,” observed Richard Muneza, a beauty pageant enthusiast.

The judges made the contestants’ task easy, asking simple and repeat questions with the option of answering in Kinyarwanda. But even then, some questioned the responses and fluency with which the girls answered.

“After the White Man’s language was murdered in the preliminaries, questions have been asked in Kinyarwanda at the Miss Rwanda finale. But the answers are average nonetheless,” noted Gozanga Muganwa, a Rwandan journalist and social commentator.

‘Total mess’

Ingabire Mudenge followed the event live on TV. She said: “This is not fair. Miss Rwanda 2014 is a total mess. I regret why I didn’t sleep instead.”

The triumph of Ms Akiwacu caused divisions, with sections of the audience ululating in victory when her name was announced while others murmured in disapproval. The crowd’s favourite ended up first runner-up and Marlene Mutoniwase second runner-up.

According to the rules, beauty and elegance contribute up to 25 per cent each while “expression” can earn the contestant 20 per cent and the content of their answers 30 per cent.

While the audience could have wished otherwise, the judges’ decision was informed by what they were looking for in each contestant.

But, from the word go, the event was marred by disorganisation.

Questions were raised as to why the organisers had to bring in Sheila Gashumba from Uganda to be co-MC with Lion Imanzi while there were many local talents to fill that position. The teenage TV hostess actually failed to connect with her co-MC.

Also, many VIPs – including MP Eduoard Bamporiki and Miss Burundi Ariella Kwizera – could not find a seat while the presence of Eastern Province Governor Odette Uwamariya raised the suspicion that the winner was pre-determined. Ms Akiwacu is from the province.

The top award, the Nissan saloon car, looked used and had worn out tyres. Unlike the cars given to the past three winners with the “Miss Rwanda” plate, this one had registration number RAC 240K.

The number plate sequence as issued by RRA is currently at RAC…Q. Again, it had been announced that the top prize would be a brand new Hyundai I10 Grand worth Rwf13 million.

Our efforts to reach the organisers were futile as calls went unanswered.
— Additional reporting by Joram Muhoozi