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Showbiz Correspondent
MANICALAND province’s St Joseph Makoni primary school emerged winners of the inaugural CBZ Schools Debate Championship held in Bulawayo at the weekend.

They pocketed a cool $15 000.

The school from Rusape outshone nine other provincial winners from the country’s 10 provinces at Rainbow Hotel on Saturday.

Coming second and third respectively were Mabhukudwane Primary School representing Bulawayo and Matabeleland South’s Welton Primary School. Mabhukudwane received $10 000 and Welton $5 000.

For making it to the finals, all the provincial winners were given $2 000.Primary and Secondary Education Minister Paul Mavhima, who was the guest of honour at the event, said the debate competition was in line with the updated curriculum.

“The thrust of the updated curriculum is to build learners who’re versatile and multi-dimensional in the things they’re able to do after leaving school. We’ve come to understand that learning isn’t only about going to school, sitting in a classroom and writing and passing exams. The CBZ Debate Championship encourages all our students to make an original contribution to their field of study as an integral part of their professional education. It’s a ground-breaking approach to the integration of teaching and learning that emphasises the discovery of new knowledge,” said Mavhima.

He commended CBZ and the Institute of African Knowledge for teaming up to bring what he termed vibrancy to the education process. “The only gain they expect is bringing diversity and excitement to the learning process. I recommend the corporate sector to take a leaf from this plausible model of being a responsible member of the community.”

In applauding the winning school, Mavhima said the $15 000 would be put to good use.“The prize monies will enable the debate clubs to invest more in research, set up and development as this is a new initiative in most of these schools. This is a complete prize package and no excuses anymore of why this and that will not be done,” he said.

The debate’s national programme co-ordinator, Isheanesu Sibanda of Institute of African Knowledge, said the debate unearthed abundant talented debaters.

“Zimbabwe has some very good debaters and there is no doubt that in future, some of these debaters will become national leaders and public speakers of repute,” he said.“We appreciate the support from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as we have noticed a certain injection of fresh air in the education industry since the new dispensation”.

The debate championship was hosted by the Institute of African Knowledge in partnership with the National Association of Primary Heads.