Universities in epic battle of wits

TWELVE State universities will be locked in a battle of wits tomorrow at the third edition of the National Universities Quiz challenge.

The two-day event, which will be held in Harare, will run under the theme“Securing sexual and reproductive health of students and young people in the Covid-19 era”.

Organisers of the event, SAYWHAT, say the competition will test the intellect of the participants and also serve as an opportunity to identify knowledge gaps among the youth.

Stakeholders that include policymakers will also get a“rare”opportunity to understand how young people think.

Speaking to The Sunday Mail Society, SAYWHAT director Jimmy Wilford said they hope to add value to participants and audiences.

“Issues to be engaged with during the quiz challenge include contemporary health challenges the globe faces and Zimbabwe in particular.

“The health challenge includes, but is not limited to, sexual and reproductive health, Covid-19 and mental health,” he said.

Institutions will be seeded in six pots, with the losing teams being eliminated, while those who win make it to the next round. The process continues until the final.

The quiz will also cover drug abuse, which has become prevalent among students and the youth.

“This becomes an opportunity for the young people to share experiences as peers and suggest ways to arrest mental health and drug abuse challenges,” said Wilford.

Harare Institute of Technology won the first edition in 2019, while Midlands State University emerged victorious last year.