The Sunday News
Sunday Life Reporter
REGINA Mundi High School from Gweru and Mutare Boys High School from Mutare are this year’s national champions in the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) national high schools debate competitions.
The competitions were held on Tuesday at Chaplin High School in Gweru.
More than 20 schools from all the country’s 10 provinces participated in the debate competitions whose topic was;
“Environmental Prosecution and not Environmental Education is the Best Way to Deal with Poor Waste Management Practices in Zimbabwe”.
Regina Mundi who were on the non-affirmative side of the topic and Mutare Boys on the affirmative, each walked away with $800 plus a floating trophy for coming out tops.
First runners-up, ZRP High School of Harare (affirmative) and Lydia Chimonyo Girls High School from Chimanimani, in Manicaland province (non affirmative) got $500 each plus a floating trophy for their efforts.
Thornhill High School of Gweru (affirmative) and Maranatha High School of Harare (non-affirmative) were third runners-up and walked away with $300 plus a floating trophy each.
Six best speakers were selected, three from the affirmative side and three from the non-affirmative side, and each walked away with $50 prize money plus a floating trophy.
This year’s edition of the debate competitions saw Unicef coming on board to support EMA in a partnership that is expected to last for more years to come.
Speaking at the debate competitions, guest of honour, Midlands provincial education director (PED) Mrs Agnes Gudo paid tribute to the EMA high schools debate sessions which said played an important role in creating environmentally conscious citizens.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and school pupils in particular have learnt a lot from these informative debate sessions.
“I was made to understand that this competition starts at district up to national level throughout the country ensuring that everyone participates.
“The future of this country lies in sustainable utilisation of our natural resources. For this to be achieved there is need to create an environmentally conscious society where ethos of environmental tolerance and sustainable developments are upheld by all citizens,” she said.
Mrs Gudo added that the country’s environmental management policy should be guided and influenced by inputs from forums such as high schools debate competitions.
EMA Midlands provincial manager Mr Milton Muusha emphasised the importance of the EMA debate competition in disseminating information on preservations of the environment.
Mr Muusha also called for a litter free Zimbabwe through collaborative efforts between EMA and members of the public.
“These debates also serve to educate, inform and entertain the audience and all participants here present. Let’s all work together with EMA to have a litter free Zimbabwe by also practicing proper waste management at each and every place we are.
Choose to be part of the solution and not the problem,” he said.
The EMA national high schools debate competitions started in 2010 and have been held in different provinces on a rational basis. So a far a total of 750 schools have taken part in the competitions.
@irielyan
