Charlotte Muziri

"Growing up it was not easy for me, witnessing my mother go through difficult times trying to make ends meet in raising me up"

"There are times that are still painful for me to talk about, but my mother is a fighter and she gets things done and she never gives up and here I am today thanks to her"

"My mother always told me that she could not give me the world, but only education because that’s the inheritance I get to keep for life. I remember one time I had to go for entrance tests for my Form One. We had to walk from Lynwood Mvuma to Holy Cross High School by foot because it was a matter of saving for entrance test fees"

"Those who are familiar with Chirumanzu know that it is a long distance between those places. I recall we left the house at around 2am in the morning for us to get to Holy Cross before 8am for the entrance test. I also remember when I had to stay with my grandmother and mother was at school and we were financially strained. I had to walk to school without shoes"

"This one time in Form 4, my mother had to wake up at around 4am to ask for financial help from one of the farmers in order for my school fees to get paid"

"It was not easy to be there. When I look back at everything, I truly believe that"

"I have so many people who are not even related to me to thank for helping my mother to send me to school. I always try to reflect on how I got here so that I can get motivated to try and do better"

"I had the privilege to be raised by strong independent women, when my mother fell sick and when she also had an opportunity to go back to school I had to go and live with my grandmother. The most amazing human being ever, I wish she was here to celebrate this moment with me"

"My late grandmother taught me how to cook, how to take care of myself, how to pray and to work for something, she was like my second mother,” said Charlotte. “She would always tell me that there is nothing for free in this world. My grandmother was a tailor and she would make us clothes, but to get them you had to do something in return either help weeding the fields or fetch firewood and then she would give them to us"

"I used to shrink myself in the crowds so that people won’t see how tall I am, because I used to get mocked for being the tallest girl in class and at school. Even walking in the streets right now, people still find it amusing that I am this tall"

"So, I never participated in anything that would make me stand out as I was always referred to as “toro” tall girl and to me back then it diminished my confidence"

"Honestly, it was about giving myself the grace to try so that I will not regret later on. What I have learned is that if you give yourself grace to try God always meets you along the way"

"But I am accepting these changes with a grateful heart as I know that being chosen amongst the most beautifully intelligent young ladies in my country, God saw fit and worthy of me to be crowned. I know it takes hard work, preparation, sweat and sleepless nights to be selected among the best 11 contestants, but to be crowned I believe it is destiny"

"I came to Harare through tertiary education at the University of Zimbabwe, I was fortunate enough to get my first friend there and still my friend helped me get used to the Harare life and I quickly adjusted"

"I was not prepared and as always, I was planning on sabotaging myself again. These auditions happened when I was still preparing for the Makanaka fashion show. The time for Miss Zimbabwe Queen auditions was clashing with my rehearsal schedule"

"However, my friends from the Makanaka fashion show knew I once spoke about auditioning so when the time was going against me, they offered to drive me to the venue. My other friend offered to do my make-up and we did at the Rainbow Towers bathroom. I am so grateful to these people because they did not give me a room to make an excuse and I showed up for the auditions"

"When I started writing these book chapters, my mother reminded me that even in primary school, I was always commended for writing good compositions. I believe it’s something that was in me that wanted to be nurtured. When I write I get this sense of joy when I look at my work and it’s fulfilling"