adminMary Doma Cool Lifestyle Writer
St Patrick’s and Mtshabezi High School are this year’s national champions in the Environmental Management Agency schools debate competition to develop environmental awareness among young people.
The debate was held recently at the Management Training Bureau in Msasa and the two schools each walked away with $700.
The schools debated on the topic: “Environmental prosecution and not environmental education is the best way to reduce veld fires in Zimbabwe”.
St Patrick’s came first on the non-affirmative side while St Dominic’s High School came second.
“I am really excited, it is not an easy task with exams approaching, but our hard work has paid off as we came up tops at the national and final round because God did not bring us this far to fail,” said Hazel Chibaya a student at St Patrick’s High School.
On the affirmative side Mtshabezi High School cruising all the way to the top followed by Goromonzi High School.
“I am very happy that we won today and I must say without hard work and God granting us this opportunity we wouldn’t have made it: we are the defending champions since last year we won,” said Zibusiso Ndlovu of Mtshabezi.
Hazel Chibaya of St Patrick’s High and Zibusiso Ndlovu of Mtshabezi walked away with cash prizes of $50 each for being the best speakers on the affirmative and non-affirmative sides respectively.
“It is an achievement for me to be named best speaker at this competition.
“It makes me happy that what I was imparting to the fellow colleagues was received and last year I was also awarded best speaker so it shows that I am doing something right “said Zibusiso Ndlovu of Mtshabezi High School.
“It has been a long time wanting this and I am very humbled to be crowned best speaker out of other speakers from 10 different schools from several districts,” said Hazel Chibaya of St Patrick’s High School.
Mr Abraham Matiza, the deputy director for environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate was the guest of honour at the event.
Last week saw Goromonzi and St Dominic’s Chishawasha winning cash prizes of $400 each and hampers at the regional finals at Mabelreign Girls High School.
“This is an excellent opportunity for us and it also helps in moulding us for the future,” said Tendai Kambasha a student at Goromonzi High School.
“As a former (junior) Speaker of Parliament I am happy that I have achieved to help the Government establish ground rules on veld fires, it is a big task.
“I hope we win at the nationals and you can bank on us as a team as we will bring the trophy,” said Kudakwashe Chikondowa from Goromonzi.
Online Reporter