Online Reporter
A 12-year-old girl from Quality Junior School has returned from the four-day Debate and Public Speaking competition, which concluded this week in Nairobi, Kenya.
Panganai Munemutsa was the star of the event, impressing adjudicators with her flawless performance and a remarkable blend of coherence and thoroughness in presenting her arguments.
Over 68 students from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries participated in the competition, including eight representatives from Quality Junior School.
Three of these students secured spots in the top three, competing against participants from other Southern African nations, ultimately clinching the number one position and bringing the trophy home.
The competition, which began on Saturday, ended yesterday.
The eight students from Quality Junior School are Munemutsa, Chiedza Mushipe, Theophilus Shenje, Yeukai Zifamba, Sharmaine Gore, Chanice Paringira, Sasha Kabozo, and Takunda Nyikadzino. The three students who qualified for the final ten were Munemutsa, Yeukai, and Sharmaine.
Previously, the students excelled in a similar competition held in Beira, Mozambique, in August, where they advanced from the first round to the second round, outperforming their competitors.
In an interview with Digital Telegraph Zw, Dr Maria Mafunga-Kimu, founder and director of Quality Junior School, expressed pride in the students’ achievements.
“We are pleased to announce that our eight students, who traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, for the Debate and Public Speaking Competitions on November 22, 2024, came back home with a trophy. They are making us proud as parents and lifting our flag high,” she said.
In a separate interview, qualifier Panganai Munemutsa shared her excitement:
“I’m thrilled to have made it to the finals. I learned a lot and am now gearing up for next year’s competitions. I would like to thank my mom; she is my role model.
“She always encourages me to speak my mind and believe in myself. To my friends, with whom I competed, I learned that teamwork matters a lot.”
Additionally, one of the parents, speaking during the welcome at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, said, “We are so happy that they succeeded. We will continue to encourage them to participate in these events to build their self-esteem.”
