Online Reporter
AN eight-member squad of Zimbabwean high school students, including two 13-year-olds, has been crowned European Moot Court Champions in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania, after defeating France in the final round of a rigorous international advocacy competition.
The victory highlights a remarkable run by the Zimbabwe National Moot Court Team, which advanced through high-pressure rounds against older international competitors.
The team defeated Azerbaijan in the semi-finals before securing the title against France.
Led by head coach Advocate Nqobile Dube of the Ideas Matter Academy, the diverse delegation brought together students aged 13 to 16 — four boys and four girls — drawn from six different schools across the country.
The students included Tinodaishe Cole Makwiranzou, 15 (St John’s College); team captain
Amyra Jain, 15 (Hellenic Academy); deputy team captain Ziyanda Inzwirashe Madison Zawe, 15 (Tynwald High School); Giovanni Tawananyasha Nyatsambo, 16 (Tynwald High School); Tafadzwa Samuel Mwagura, 15 (Milestone College); Mukudzei Collen Junior Mharadzano, 13 (Milestone College); Courtney Falees Joseph, 15 (Bulawayo Adventist School); and Sarah Arielle Msipa, 13 (Celebration International School).
Selected from an initial pool of roughly 200 applicants following nationwide trials hosted virtually and at Dominican Convent, the students underwent months of intensive preparation.
Because team members were spread across different regions, much of the coaching took place online, with late-night sessions frequently running from 6pm until 10pm.
In Romania, the teenagers argued a simulated case before an International Criminal Court tribunal involving a complex fictional geopolitical conflict between two states, Valdris and Solvane.
The case required the students to tackle intricate issues of international humanitarian law, including temporal jurisdiction, perfidy, civilian attacks and environmental damage resulting from military actions.
During 10-minute oral advocacy segments, the team had to deliver structured legal arguments while responding to unpredictable, real-time interruptions from judges.
The team’s journey was supported in part by a US$12 000 corporate sponsorship from telecommunications operator NetOne, alongside personal contributions from families to cover international travel and logistical costs.
The victory builds on Zimbabwe’s growing footprint in competitive global advocacy following earlier international title wins by the national moot court programme since 2022.
