ZIMBABWE NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Innocent Batsani Ncube

Dates: 4 to 9 October 2009

Venue: National University of Science and Technology (NUST)


Executive Summary
The National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) Debate School in partnership with Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YET) hosted the Zimbabwe National Universities Debate Championships (ZNDC) on 4 to 9 October 2009. The championships were held under the theme WORDS FEST! Promoting critical thinking, listening and engagement skills. This was meant to enhance public speaking, thinking and communication skills in young people.
The six day event was a serious hive of social dialogue among young people drawn from nine tertiary institutions across the country. The said institutions are the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), The National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Midlands State University (MSU), Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), Lupane State University (LSU), Hillside Teachers’ College and Bulawayo Polytechnic College. The debate school forwarded four teams to the championships.
20 teams battled in the five preliminary rounds, four broke to the quarters, eight to the semi finals and only four to the finals. Winners of the Championships are the qualifiers to the Pan African Universities Debate Championships to be hosted by Botswana in December this year. Generally the tourney went swiftly owing to the hard work put forth by the organizing team in their different portfolios. World class trainers, the Botswana delegates conducted the training for both debaters and adjudicators. This brought international flavor to the tournament. Debate motions covered various disciplines and it was pleasing to note the level of attentiveness that the debaters portrayed throughout the rounds. High profile delegates and the NYDT board added weight to the whole event.

Profile of participants

Participants of the ZNDC constituted of young men and women drawn from nine tertiary institutions across the country. The represented institutions were the University of Zimbabwe(UZ), The National University of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Bindura University of Science Education, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Lupane State University, Africa University, Hillside Teachers’ College and Bulawayo Polytechnic College. The NYDT debate School forwarded four teams which participated at the ZNDC. The total number of debaters was 40. Of particular note was the balanced proportion of males to females. This is a noble idea in the quest of giving young women an equal chance of participation in such initiatives, as their male counterparts.

The launch

ZNDC was launched at the Thistle room at Bulawayo Centre on the 2nd of October 2009. In attendance were the members of the Bulawayo Press Club, Journalists, Debate School members and invited guests. Mr Dumisani Sibanda, the Chairperson of the Bulawayo Press club was the guest of honor. Miss Nothando Mtungwa, a young emerging leader from the debate school chaired the launch. The audience was taken through an informative and enjoyable debate by the debate school members who showcased their debating skills to the house. The motion for the day was;
This house believes that orthodox social democracy is the best foundation for policy formulation in Zimabwe
In his speech, Mr Sibanda expressed keen interest in the activities conducted by NYDT particularly the debate. He asked the team to utilize the Thistle room in convening such initiatives in a quest to enhance social dialogue in a peaceful manner. He pledged to support the debate through availing space for debate at least monthly at the Thistle room. This was indeed a good move which indicates the success of the debate with the buy in from various stakeholders.

Official opening

The ZNDC was officially declared open at the NUST Delta Lecture Theatre on the first day by the Debate Patron, Doctor Lawton Hikwa. Doctor Hikwa is a renowned scholar who is the board member of NYDT and the Dean of the Faculty of Information Science at NUST. In his speech, he clearly highlighted the role of debate in promoting sustainable leadership qualities in young people.
He stated that it was necessary for NYDT to host an event of a large magnitude which brings together young people to engage in persuasive arguments. He challenged the students to strengthen debate societies in all local universities, which will serve as a market places of ideas and platforms for interaction for the youth across the country. He encouraged debaters to be serious with this initiative as it is poised to take them to places around the globe. The ceremony ended on a high note with the Botswana delegates convening a Masters Debate using the British Parliamentary debate style. The motion read;
This house believes that the public’s right to know supersedes the right to privacy of Public figures

Conclusion

The ZNDC was hosted by the debate school as planned for. There was buy in of the whole initiative by strategic partners which shows the value of the idea. Young University and College students were passionate about debate and committed themselves into spearheading the formation of debate societies in various institutions upon returning home. The University of Botswana delegates are eager to see the growth of debate in Zimbabwe. They are willing to work closely with the NYDT in assisting the organisation to bid for the PAUDC in the near future. The challenge left for the organisation is to strengthen its capacity and networks and work hard in nurturing debate. The organisation is also poised to oversee the running of the debate societies in institutions across the country. There is need to convene annual debate championships so as to enhance a culture of effective social dialogue among emerging leaders of Zimbabwe. This will not only sustain debate but will also gear the organisation and the nation in hosting the PAUDC and the WUDC in the near future.