Miss Zimbabwe 2025 Lyshanda Moyas Champions Creative Collaboration Between Zimbabwe and Malawi

Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 Lyshanda Moyas has used her platform to promote stronger cultural, creative and tourism ties between Zimbabwe and Malawi during a series of high-level engagements in Blantyre. Moyas and her delegation had the honour of meeting Malawi’s First Vice President, Dr Jane Mayemu Ansah SC, JA (Rtd), in discussions focused on the role of Africa’s creative industry in shaping the continent’s future. The engagements placed young people, creativity and regional collaboration at the centre of conversations about Africa’s development. For Moyas, the visits represented an opportunity to demonstrate that beauty queens can contribute to meaningful social and economic conversations beyond traditional pageantry. Her message was clear that a crown can provide a platform for advocacy, partnerships and initiatives that create opportunities for communities.

The meeting with Dr Jane Mayemu Ansah highlighted the growing importance of Africa’s creative economy and its potential to create opportunities for young people. Moyas and her delegation spoke about the need to strengthen the creative sector while ensuring that opportunities reach people from different backgrounds and communities. Particular attention was given to young girls, teen mothers and boys living with disabilities, groups that can face barriers when accessing education, employment and creative opportunities. Creating more inclusive pathways into the creative industry could allow young people to develop their talents while building sustainable careers. The discussions therefore connected culture and entertainment with broader issues of youth empowerment, inclusion and economic participation.

As ambassadors of Zimbabwe, Moyas and her delegation also used the engagement to promote closer relations between Zimbabwe and Malawi. The two neighbouring countries share cultural connections and have opportunities to strengthen cooperation through tourism, arts, entertainment and youth-focused initiatives. Creative industries can provide an effective platform for this type of collaboration because music, fashion, beauty, film and cultural tourism can connect people across national borders. Moyas’ engagements demonstrate how public figures can use their visibility to encourage these connections and promote opportunities for young creatives. The emphasis on collaboration also reflects a wider vision of an Africa where creative professionals can work together across countries.

Moyas expressed gratitude for the reception and encouragement she received from Malawi’s First Vice President. She said the interaction reinforced her belief that beauty queens can occupy roles that extend well beyond representing beauty and fashion. Pageant titleholders can use their visibility to advocate for social causes, promote cultural initiatives and encourage young people to pursue their ambitions. Moyas’ approach places leadership and community impact alongside the traditional responsibilities associated with representing a national pageant. Her engagements in Malawi have therefore provided an opportunity to demonstrate how a beauty title can become a platform for wider conversations about development and inclusion.

Tourism also featured prominently in the engagements, with Moyas extending appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism, Malawi, for its hospitality and support. Tourism and the creative industries often complement one another because cultural events, fashion, music, heritage and entertainment can help attract visitors and promote destinations. Regional partnerships can strengthen these opportunities by encouraging visitors and creative professionals to experience different African countries. For Zimbabwe and Malawi, collaboration in this area could create opportunities for cultural exchanges while showcasing the distinct identities of both nations. The involvement of the Ministry of Tourism also underlines the potential for government institutions and creative leaders to work together on initiatives that promote tourism and cultural diplomacy.

One of the symbolic highlights of the visit was the presentation of a piece of Zimbabwean national fabric to Dr Ansah. The initiative was facilitated by Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, giving the presentation an additional cultural and diplomatic significance. National fabrics can serve as expressions of identity, heritage and friendship, making the gesture a meaningful representation of the relationship between Zimbabwe and Malawi. The presentation also allowed Moyas and her delegation to share an element of Zimbabwean culture during their visit. It reinforced the message that cultural exchange can play an important role in building relationships between African nations.

The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to Malawi’s Second Vice President, Honourable John Tembo Chihana, accompanied by his wife, who served as Chief Judge at the 2026 Miss Zimbabwe pageant. The visit provided another opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Zimbabwe and Malawi through personal and institutional connections. Moyas described herself and her colleagues as torch bearers and ambassadors of Zimbabwe, reflecting their commitment to using their platforms responsibly. Their stated focus includes creativity, tourism, youth empowerment and meaningful partnerships between the two countries. The engagement therefore formed part of a broader effort to build relationships that extend beyond a single pageant or official visit.

The connection created through the 2026 Miss Zimbabwe pageant adds another interesting dimension to the relationship between the two countries. Having the wife of Malawi’s Second Vice President serve as Chief Judge at the pageant created a direct link between Zimbabwean pageantry and Malawi’s leadership. Such connections can help create opportunities for future collaboration in areas such as youth development, cultural exchange and tourism. Moyas’ decision to continue engaging with Malawian leadership after her pageant victory shows how titleholders can maintain relationships established through regional events. It also demonstrates how pageantry can provide a platform for building networks that extend into broader social and cultural initiatives.

Moyas also acknowledged the support of her leadership team, specifically Board Chairperson Madame Chanic La Patrona and Board Advisor Zodwa Mkandla. Their involvement reflects the importance of institutional support when public figures seek to turn advocacy and cultural diplomacy into meaningful initiatives. A successful platform requires coordination, strategic partnerships and people who can help translate ideas into practical programmes. For a titleholder seeking to promote creative and youth-focused initiatives, such support can be particularly important. The recognition of her advisers also highlights the collaborative nature of the work surrounding the Miss Universe Zimbabwe platform.

The engagements in Blantyre ultimately presented a broader vision of what African creative leadership can look like. Instead of treating culture and entertainment as separate from development, the discussions positioned the creative industry as a potential driver of opportunity, inclusion and regional cooperation. Young Africans can benefit when governments, businesses, creative organisations and public figures work together to create accessible platforms for talent development. This is especially important for young women, teen mothers and people living with disabilities, who need opportunities designed to recognise their abilities rather than their limitations. Moyas’ message places creativity at the centre of a wider conversation about how African communities can build more inclusive futures.

For Zimbabwe, the engagements also provided an opportunity to promote the country’s cultural identity and creative talent on a regional platform. Moyas’ presentation of Zimbabwean national fabric, her discussions with Malawi’s leadership and her focus on tourism all contributed to a form of cultural diplomacy. These efforts can help create awareness of Zimbabwe’s creative industries while encouraging reciprocal opportunities for Malawian creatives and institutions. Stronger regional networks could benefit artists, designers, tourism operators, pageant organisations and young entrepreneurs in both countries. The emphasis on shared cultural heritage makes the relationship particularly relevant at a time when African countries are seeking greater cooperation across creative and economic sectors.

The message from Moyas is ultimately bigger than the Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 crown. Her engagements in Malawi demonstrate an effort to use the visibility associated with pageantry to promote creativity, youth empowerment, tourism and stronger regional relationships. Meeting senior Malawian leaders and presenting Zimbabwean cultural symbols provided important moments of diplomacy, while discussions around inclusion highlighted issues affecting young people across the continent. The partnership between Zimbabwe and Malawi offers opportunities to build connections through culture and shared initiatives that can benefit future generations. As Moyas continues her work as Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025, her Malawi engagements provide a strong example of how beauty queens can become advocates, cultural ambassadors and participants in Africa’s creative future.