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MANY of us would celebrate, wouldn’t we, to come out number 101 in the world, in whatever kind of competition it may be we have taken part? But to come out number three is an achievement not many of us would even ever dream about.
Former Alpha Institute student, Trevor Tadiwanashe James, did the ‘impossible’ when he came out third best debate conductor at Utimara University in Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia, recently.
Talking to The Manica Post this week, the Midlands State University (MSU) student said no MSU student has ever achieved this feat, neither has any Zimbabwean debater.
“It was an old Alpha Institute colleague and fellow debater, Unopa Shoko, who urged me to join the MSU debating club. He had been at the varsity one year earlier than I and was now president of the club,” said Trevor James.
“My highlights are the SADC competitions and South African Pan African Debate Championships both which I dived into like a duck into water and performed exceptionally well. In Botswana I came out number seven out of 75 speakers and in South Africa was the best from Zimbabwe,” he pointed out.
The Zimbabwe National Debate Championships adjudicator said his success as a debater and subsequently as an adjudicator was a swift journey to the dizzy heights of top-class university debating.
“To become a qualified adjudicator, you go through nine rigorous rounds of championship debating, what they call Octo-finalist stage. In Malaysia there were 240 universities from 10 African countries in attendance. There were three judges, including myself. The other two had had experience in adjudication. I didn’t. This was the first time for me to adjudicate an international championship. I came out the best Zim-adjudicator and number three in the world.
This feat has never been achieved. I am extremely excited that I am the first to achieve it and what can be more than doing so representing one’s own country? I’m proud I put Zimbabwe on the map in that small way.”
I asked Trevor what he attributed his outstanding achievement to.
“Passion for debate,” he quickly remarked. “ . . . . and thanks to Alpha Institute and its principal Mr N Marange, for supporting my talent and passion. Since the 2011 Ngoma Lungundu debate sponsored by Mutare Museums and Monuments where I came out the best speaker, seconded by Christine Chigowa, I never looked back. I then took part in the Nugget High School competitions, EMA debate and others in which I gave fellow debaters a good run for their money. I love competing,” he said.
“But I didn’t earn the world number three position on a silver platter. I want you to appreciate this truth. It was a long arduous journey, full of a high level of competitiveness, but of course one that I enjoyed walking,” Trevor explained clearly unable to hide his pride and excitement.
Why not? Only fools light up lamps and hide them under a bushel.
The Manica Post wishes Trevor James a prosperous future of top-class debating.
The world-class Zimbabwe Universities National Debate champion and MSU Minister of Academic Affairs concluded the interview by sharing his sentiments with The Manica Post:
“My aim is to make my voice change the world. It is every debater’s wish and aspiration. Debate at this level is not just talking and speaking. It is also about leadership training. It is every serious debater’s quest to change the world, to make an impact, through advocacy, through dialogue and influencing policy at all levels of national development.
We debate politics, economic and foreign policy issues, for example, governance, peace issues and other topics around leadership. I strongly believe in leadership which uplifts the capacities and potentials of other people. At MSU, I assisted 420 students to access opportunities to have their varsity education funded by goodwill financiers and individual donors,” concluded the former Alpha Institute student captain.
Standby for Part 2 of the exclusive interview with the world number 3 debater! Trevor James shall be inspiring students to grow up focused and responsibly.
Watch the space!
Online Reporter