Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
Midlands State University (MSU) has won the prestigious 18th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition for the second year running.
The MSU Faculty of Law team emerged victorious during the finals held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday.
The winning team comprised Mr Prince Tinokunda Mafigu and Ms Ruth Fadzai Jokonya, who were coached by Mr Claudios Makwara.
Strathmore University of Kenya, a two-time previous winner of the competition, finished as runners-up.
By retaining the title, MSU has once again demonstrated the strength of legal education at Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning.
The victory also reflects the high standards of higher and tertiary education in Zimbabwe, as the Second Republic, under President Mnangagwa, moves to position local universities as centres of innovation and solutions to societal challenges in pursuit of Vision 2030.
Speaking after the victory, Mr Makwara said MSU’s latest triumph marked only the fourth time the competition has been won by an African team.
“This is the fourth time the moot is won by an African team,” he said.
“It was previously won by Strathmore University of Kenya in 2020 and 2021. The Midlands State University has also done it now, winning it in 2025 and 2026. The event saw MSU’s students outshine competitors from across the globe.”
MSU, Mr Makwara said, continued to lead from the front, putting Zimbabwe and Africa in the global spotlight.
“It feels so great to not only win, but win for the second successive year,” he said.
“The students performed very well in defending the title, and we are glad that we are bringing it home again.
“We have successfully represented not only MSU, but Zimbabwe and Africa at large. This has shown that Zimbabwe’s tertiary institutions are a force to reckon with at the international stage.”
The university, he added, would continue striving to be a global leader in legal education, buoyed by its latest achievement.
“We have prevailed against top universities around the globe for the second time in a row. As a university, we are very confident that we are producing high-quality academics, advocates and professionals. I would also want to extend my gratitude to the university and to the faculty for the support they always give. Without them, we would not have achieved this. I am glad we have kept the Zimbabwean flag high.”
The competition attracted 122 teams that applied to participate.
Only 50 teams qualified for the virtual rounds held in May this year, with 24 teams progressing to the finals in Geneva, where MSU emerged victorious.
