The Sunday News
MTSHABEZI High School emerged victorious at this year’s National Speech Relay competition which was held two weeks ago at Hope Centre as part of the 10th edition of the Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo.
Sizane of Pelandaba suburb in Bulawayo and St James of Nyamandlovu, were second and third respectively.
Nineteen schools from six provinces of Zimbabwe (Matabeleland North and South, Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo and Bulawayo) battled it out at the venue which was full to capacity.
Charming Dube, Muhle Siwela and Sibongumusa Ncube carried the day for Mtshabezi, the Matabeleland South school, located in Gwanda District as they convinced the adjudicators in their delivery, articulacy and confidence.
Innocent Ncube, the director of CA-F, said he was happy to see how much talent and potential the country had and was impressed by how the competition is improving with every passing competition.
“We are really impressed by how much talent we have witnessed at these championships and we have seen how Zimbabwe in its entirety (as evidenced from the provinces which were present here) has such flair and aptitude,” he noted.
For the past eight years since Contemporary Affairs Foundation, which hosts the competitions, was founded, it has enduringly and successfully facilitated the Zimbabwe Public Speaking Championships (ZPSC) and the Zimbabwe Schools Debating Championship (ZSDC) across schools. Winners at national level have had the opportunity to represent the country at international competitions.
Eleven pupils were selected and they will compete in the ZPSC next February where one representative will be chosen to represent the country at the International Public Speaking Championships. In 2013, the championship was won by Zibusiso Dube, a pupil at Mtshabezi High who also represented the country at the IPSC (2014) in London.
The 11 that will battle it out in February are Hannah Maramba (Minda), Deon Kanyowa (St Davids), Sithabile Hlatshwayo (Minda), Nicolas Marimo (Marist Inyanga), Nomusa Masaiti (Minda), Tinaye Tsinakwati (Marist Inyanga), Vuyelwa Sibindi (St James), Simbarashe Siyakurima (St Faith), Prosperity Ndlovu and Daniel Ngwenya (Sizane).
