The auditions for Miss Rwanda 2021 which were slated to kick off on Saturday, January 9, were postponed following the tougher COVID-19 preventive measures  issued by the cabinet meeting held on Monday January 4. 

The postponement of the auditions, which were scheduled to start in Rubavu in search of western province representatives, was announced in a statement released on Tuesday January 5, by Rwanda Inspiration Backup, the annual beauty pageant management and organisers. 

"The Miss Rwanda organization takes seriously matters regarding health of the contestants and encourages the general public  to adhere to the preventive measures issued by the government of Rwanda for the safety of all,” reads part of the statement. 

The announcement comes after both private and public transport from and to Kigali, as well as movements between districts, were banned to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic which saw half of the total deaths occurring in December last year. 

The organisers said that they are now monitoring the situation around the virus adding that they will continue consultations with concerned authorities on the way forward. 

Organisers added in the statement that new dates for the auditions will be communicated ‘in the near future’ . 

Meanwhile, registration is still open for young women aspiring to participate at this year’s edition of the beauty contest as resumption for auditions remains pending for at least the next two weeks which could be extended if the Covid-19 situation worsens. 

The postponement could also affect the whole schedule of the  beauty contest whose grand finale could be pushed to a later date.