The spirit of intellectual competition roared back to life in Harare this past weekend as St George’s College and Christian Brothers College (CBC) emerged as champions in the 2025 CBZ National Schools Debate Tournament, hosted at Dominican Convent. After a two-year break, the prestigious event made a triumphant return, bringing together some of Zimbabwe’s most promising young debaters.
This year’s edition saw participation from 21 schools across the country, marking a strong comeback after the tournament was last held in 2023. The renewed energy and expanded scale of the event reflected both its growing popularity and the strategic support of title sponsor CBZ Bank, which committed US$30,000 to this year’s tournament.
St George’s College dominated the senior division, delivering persuasive arguments and sharp rebuttals to claim the championship title. Oriel Boys High School earned second place with a commendable performance, while Dominican Convent Bulawayo impressed to take third, underlining the competitive strength across the board.
Individual accolades in the senior category were also closely contested. Rudo Katesi of St George’s College stood out as the top debater of the tournament, while Makaita Makwanya from St Ignatius College took second place. Christian Nhika, also of St George’s, completed the top three with a strong showing throughout the rounds.
The junior category proved just as thrilling. Christian Brothers College from Bulawayo took top honours, showcasing eloquence and clarity far beyond their years. St Ignatius College claimed second place, and host school Dominican Convent Harare completed the podium with an impressive third-place finish.
In the junior individual awards, Munotida Nyamanhindi of Dominican Convent Harare was named best junior debater. Gamuchirai Musakasa of Kriste Mambo secured second place, while fellow Dominican Convent Harare student Vimbainashe Gwete came in third, capping off an excellent performance by the host school’s junior team.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, tournament director and Dominican Convent head, Sister Kudzai Mutsure, praised the caliber of debate and the spirit of engagement exhibited by all participants.
“It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you today after what has been a truly inspiring and intellectually enriching edition of the CBZ Schools Debate Championships,” she said. “This year, we welcomed 21 schools from across the country and we witnessed an incredible showcase of knowledge exchange, meaningful discourse and dynamic social interaction.”
Sister Mutsure highlighted the successful revival of the tournament following the 2024 break and the new elements that enhanced its scope. “One of the most exciting milestones this year was the pre-tournament workshop we hosted — bringing together 10 schools from 9 provinces to familiarise themselves with the World Schools Debating Championship model.”
She also commended CBZ for its unwavering support of education initiatives. “This growth is made possible by our amazing partnership with CBZ. Their deep and unwavering commitment to education has taken this initiative to new heights.”
As the 2025 CBZ National Schools Debate Tournament came to a close, it left behind a legacy of empowered voices, sharpened critical thinking skills, and a renewed commitment to nurturing future leaders through the art of debate.
