Zim debate team set for Germany
ZIMBAWE will this week send a six-member team of debaters to Germany for the World Schools Debate Championships.
The team comprises four pupils and two other members from the Contemporary Affairs Foundation (CAF), the organisers of the trip.
CAF launched the Zimbabwe Schools Debate Championships (ZSDC), which is an elite high schools debate competition targeting at least 20 schools from across the country. The organisation is the only full-time debate and public speaking organisation in the country.
Zimbabwean team coach Ms Nomqhele Siziba from CAF, who will also travel to Germany with the team, said they were responsible for the training and entering of the team into the competition.
“We train and enter the pupils into the national team, the selected pupils then register for the World Schools Debate Championships and this year they are going to Germany from 19 to 29 July,” she said.
The team which comprises Mufaro Olsi from Goldridge College in Kwekwe, Nathan Kudena, Jay Muzhingi and Anesu Ndoro all from Kutama College in Mashonaland West is camped in Bulawayo where they are under intensive training until they go for the world championships.
Mr Gift Meki who is going to Germany as an adjudicator and is also training the team said he was confident that team Zimbabwe would perform well as they were undergoing intensive coaching.
“The team is spending long hours in training as we are equipping them with the best information available so that they perform well, and we are leaving no stone unturned as we want good results from them,” said Meki.
He said of the 56 participants very few African countries are participating namely, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
He further said the team was greatly indebted to Kutama College for the support they offered to the team in terms of airfares, accommodation, regalia and food.
Mufaro from Goldridge College said she was confident to be in the team and is the only female.
“Three of my teammates are males and I am confident to be with them as they are encouraging me to excel, they are very supportive and I am sure we will perform well,” she said.
The three other teammates from Kutama College said they were proud to be representing the country in the competitions and said they would work hard and make it to the top.
Last year Zimbabwe made its debut appearance at the world competitions in Singapore.