Malaika judges refuse to budge

THE organisers of Miss Malaika Namibia yesterday started to put a lid on the controversy surrounding the pageant and refused to give any more comment.

But most of the pageant’s judges maintained that the wrong person was crowned. Despite the organisers’ insistence that the decision of the “independent judge” to appoint the winner was final, the outcome may yet be in the balance.The man who holds the rights and licence for international Miss Malaika has expressed dissatisfaction and asked for the scores of all judges to be tallied.Tonata Shiimi, Miss Malaika Namibia’s executive producer, yesterday said they have not heard from Ernest Coovi Adjovi, executive director for the pageant.Said Shiimi: “We have decided not to entertain the media any more, but I haven’t spoken to Adjovi. We want to put this matter to rest and move on to better things”.While Shiimi preferred silence, the dissatisfied adjudicators continue to voice their unhappiness with the way Helena Mungunda was chosen.Five of the seven judges claimed they ranked her third, one put her in second place.But businessman Matthew Gowaseb, who was dubbed an “independent judge”, had the final say and chose Mungunda.Gowaseb said earlier this week his choice was based solely on the way the finalists answered the questions on HIV-AIDS.The organisers made the AIDS pandemic the theme of the competition to which the beauty queen will devote her reign.The other judges say the “independent judge” tag was not made clear from the outset.”The organisation has decided to stick to the girl and I must say we feel used,” said Irene Simeon, Marketing, Manager of the Government Institutions Pension Fund.Another disgruntled adjudicator, designer Odette Krempin, said they would stick to their position and planned to hold a press conference today.An unhappy judge, who declined to be named because he had “promised” the patron of the pageant, Minister of Health Libertina Amathila, not to make press statements, claimed: “This independent judge thing was an afterthought to justify their decision after they realised that the girl they wanted to win failed.”The holder of the controversial Miss Malaika Namibia 2004 title, Mungunda, said she was proud to wear the title.”I am at peace with myself and with the judges,” said Mungunda.The judges should have been clear about rules and regulations.”I was quite surprised [that they did not know] because even at a grassroots level, I understood the role of an independent judge. It makes you wonder …,” she said.On the controversy, she said: “These things are not new. I have been working with people and you learn that sometimes some people are pleased and there are those that will not be pleased”.Mungunda, a staunch Christian, said that she entered the competition because she loved to work with sick people and winning the title was a sign from God for her to continue in her work.Despite the organisers’ insistence that the decision of the “independent judge” to appoint the winner was final, the outcome may yet be in the balance. The man who holds the rights and licence for international Miss Malaika has expressed dissatisfaction and asked for the scores of all judges to be tallied. Tonata Shiimi, Miss Malaika Namibia’s executive producer, yesterday said they have not heard from Ernest Coovi Adjovi, executive director for the pageant. Said Shiimi: “We have decided not to entertain the media any more, but I haven’t spoken to Adjovi. We want to put this matter to rest and move on to better things”. While Shiimi preferred silence, the dissatisfied adjudicators continue to voice their unhappiness with the way Helena Mungunda was chosen. Five of the seven judges claimed they ranked her third, one put her in second place. But businessman Matthew Gowaseb, who was dubbed an “independent judge”, had the final say and chose Mungunda. Gowaseb said earlier this week his choice was based solely on the way the finalists answered the questions on HIV-AIDS. The organisers made the AIDS pandemic the theme of the competition to which the beauty queen will devote her reign. The other judges say the “independent judge” tag was not made clear from the outset. “The organisation has decided to stick to the girl and I must say we feel used,” said Irene Simeon, Marketing, Manager of the Government Institutions Pension Fund. Another disgruntled adjudicator, designer Odette Krempin, said they would stick to their position and planned to hold a press conference today. An unhappy judge, who declined to be named because he had “promised” the patron of the pageant, Minister of Health Libertina Amathila, not to make press statements, claimed: “This independent judge thing was an afterthought to justify their decision after they realised that the girl they wanted to win failed.” The holder of the controversial Miss Malaika Namibia 2004 title, Mungunda, said she was proud to wear the title. “I am at peace with myself and with the judges,” said Mungunda. The judges should have been clear about rules and regulations. “I was quite surprised [that they did not know] because even at a grassroots level, I understood the role of an independent judge. It makes you wonder …,” she said. On the controversy, she said: “These things are not new. I have been working with people and you learn that sometimes some people are pleased and there are those that will not be pleased”. Mungunda, a staunch Christian, said that she entered the competition because she loved to work with sick people and winning the title was a sign from God for her to continue in her work.