Elmas Chiganda won the Mr Ugly pageant in Zimbabwe after finishing second in last year's contest.
Elmas Chiganda won the Mr Ugly pageant in Zimbabwe after finishing second in last year's contest.

Contest to be Zimbabwe's most hideous



BEITBRIDGE, ZIMBABWE // Beitbridge, a dusty town on Zimbabwe's southern border with South Africa, has crowned its ugliest man, in a unique pageant that attracted 15 contestants and thousands of spectators. Elmas Chiganda, 43, who participated in the inaugural contest last July but lost, was the clear favourite this time with his almost fearsome looks. In the end he won the Mr Ugly crown, outclassing even the man who beat him to it last year, Peter Chikomakoma.

Ugliness, of course, is in the eye of the beholder. Everything about Mr Chiganda, a traditional healer and polygamist with 10 children, is ugly. He does not walk, he lumbers; his smile is a grin. "I knew it," said Mr Chiganda, in his victory speech. "I am the ugliest man in town. I think I can even compete at national level. My looks have always been a subject of ridicule - I might be ugly, but I have a very good heart. A man has to be proud of how he looks. I am happy that I am the ugliest man around here."

For his efforts, and bad looks, Mr Chiganda received a cash prize of 1,500 rand (Dh750), which he said is so little that it discourages potential contestants. Last year's winner, Mr Chikomakoma, was given the same amount of money plus a goat and an axe. While he was chosen by a panel of judges, the audience thought Mr Chiganda should have won. The Mr Ugly pageant is Zimbabwe's only such event, launched in July last year. The contestants went on the ramp in three segments - day wear, business wear and evening wear.

"Even clothes cannot hide their looks. They are unique in the way they look. That is why we are celebrating the way they look," said Lovemore Chonzi, the master of ceremonies, drawing a round of laughter from the audience. Growing up in Mberengwa, 200km north of Beitbridge, Mr Chiganda got used to taunts early on in his life, before developing what he says was a defence mechanism. "People used to call me all sorts of names until I came to terms with it. My peers would giggle at me every time. They called me Ruma," he said, referring to any wild animal capable of attacking and eating humans.

"But I would beat anyone who laughed at me or called me names. Now I don't care. I am proud of myself." Dominic Gwatirisa, the Beitbridge-based founder of the competition, said the contest was motivated by the desire to celebrate the appearance of the aspirants so as to instill confidence in them. "Most pageants in Zimbabwe and elsewhere, involve women and the definition of beauty from a western point of view," Mr Gwatirisa said.

"With Mr Ugly we want men to be proud of themselves, whatever way they look. You must not be ashamed of yourself if you are ugly because that is what God wanted. You are like everyone else. In this competition, we do not just look for the bad looks, but also the heart." Mr Gwatirisa compared the Mr Ugly pageant with another unique Zimbabwean contest - Miss Big Mafotofoto, which its organisers say celebrates African notions of beauty. Participants in the Miss Big competition have to be pretty as in any conventional beauty contest, but weigh more than 100 kg, as opposed to the largely western ideal of tall and slim women.

Generally, ugly men have trouble in their love lives. Not super dad Chiganda. "I am happily married to two wives," he said. "I must say they really love me because I am an ugly man of modest means. They have maintained their love for me regardless. You see, what they love is not money or the good looks because I do not have either. They just love me as a person. It gives me happiness that I also have a big family; each of my wives has five children."

Although last year's event left some people disgruntled, this time most of the audience felt Mr Chiganda deserved the title. "I have never seen such an ugly creature," said Susan Chikore, of Dulibadzimu suburb in Beitbridge. "Fine, everyone was very ugly out there, but Elmas was the ugliest. I will die if a man like him proposes love to me." Mr Gwatirisa said both editions of the pageant have been highly successful. Based on that success, he plans to make it a national event probably next year, subject to sponsorship being available.

"We are sponsoring this event on our own, but if we make it a national event, we would need more funds. "But with the interest I have seen, I hope there would be a buy-in from sponsors. There are hundreds of exceptionally ugly men around the country and we want them to come out and compete." foreign.desk@thenational.ae

Company%20profile
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German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The%20specs
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The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.

THE SPECS

2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE

Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors

Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode

Power: 121hp

Torque: 142Nm

Price: Dh95,900

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants

Episode list:

Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery 

Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges 

Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic 

Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks 

Ep5: Travel and tourism 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
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  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.

Company Profile 

Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners

Breast cancer in men: the facts

1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.

2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash. 

3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible. 

4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key. 

5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor

 

THE CARD

2pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

2.30pm: Handicap Dh 76,000 (D) 1,400m

3pm: Handicap Dh 64,000 (D) 1,200m

3.30pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh 100,000 (D) 1,000m

4pm: Maiden Dh 60,000 (D) 1,000m

4.30pm: Handicap 64,000 (D) 1,950m

The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass

Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)

Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS

Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225

Engine: 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm

Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km

Crops that could be introduced to the UAE

1: Quinoa 

2. Bathua 

3. Amaranth 

4. Pearl and finger millet 

5. Sorghum

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)

Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)

INDIA SQUAD

Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami

Brief scores:

Toss: India, opted to field

Australia 158-4 (17 ov)

Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24

India 169-7 (17 ov)

Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22

Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method

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The Ashes

Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs

RACE SCHEDULE

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm

Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm

Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm

Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House

Match statistics

Dubai Sports City Eagles 8 Dubai Exiles 85

Eagles
Try:
Bailey
Pen: Carey

Exiles
Tries:
Botes 3, Sackmann 2, Fourie 2, Penalty, Walsh, Gairn, Crossley, Stubbs
Cons: Gerber 7
Pens: Gerber 3

Man of the match: Tomas Sackmann (Exiles)

FIRST TEST SCORES

England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)

England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0

Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)

 

Royal Birkdale Golf Course

Location: Southport, Merseyside, England

Established: 1889

Type: Private

Total holes: 18

Sukuk

An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.