The Sunday News
Bruce Chimani Sunday Leisure Correspondent
BULAWAYO will this week be a hive of activity as it is likely to be coloured in different school uniforms with 21 high schools drawn from all provinces across the country descending in the city today and tomorrow for the inaugural Zimbabwe Schools Debate Championships.The competition which will run from 24-29 November at the Bulawayo Polytechic where the teams will camp has been confirmed and is going to add fun and flavour in the city’s entertainment circles.
Contemporary Affairs Foundation (CA-F) who are organisers of the championships said the schools that have confirmed participation are Lomagundi College, Falcon College, Kutama College, Chinhoyi 1 High, Chinhoyi 2 High, Chaplin High, Kwekwe High, Cornway High, Gutu High, Sakubva 1 High, St Josephs High, Mtshabezi High, Leopold Takawira High, Usher High, Mutare Boys High, Mutare Teachers’ High, Msengezi High, Townsend High, Goromonzi High, Fletcher and Mpopoma High.
Some of the schools expressed excitement at being part of the competitions saying they were ready and prepared to battle it out with other schools.
“We are ready for the competitions. We have been preparing very hard. We are therefore excited to be part of the tournament. Besides winning the competition presents a very good platform for sharing ideas with other schools and learning how others have been doing it,” said a teacher at a local school.
The tournament chief adjudicator, Zanele Ncube has vast experience locally and internationally and has been chosen for her competency to lead the adjudication team.
The tournament rounds start on Tuesday and will be in World Schools Style and the prepared motions are, “This house believes that juveniles should be prosecuted as adults” and “This house believes the Zimbabwe Bill of Rights should be justifiable.”
Teams are required to prepare for both motions in the affirmative and negative.
“The ZSDC will strictly follow the World Schools format and timing, that is, the first six speeches should be eight minutes long and the last two speeches four minutes long. A coaching desk will be established from 2200hrs to 0600hrs each night to enable debaters to get assistance from experienced judges on their prepared speeches and debate in general. Teachers will be scheduled on a roaster to maintain order and discipline during the evening coaching clinics,” a statement from CA-F read.
The finale and awards ceremony, scheduled for Saturday night, will be at the CA-F Centre where participants will be all dressed formally as it will be a black-tie event.
