HARARE, Jul. 2 (NewsDay Live) – The 2026 CBZ Debate and Public Speaking Tournament gets underway at Dominican Convent High School on Friday, with organisers introducing primary school categories for the first time in the competition's history.
The expanded tournament now features Junior and Senior Public Speaking sections for primary school learners, broadening a programme that has traditionally focused on secondary schools.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dominican Convent High School head Sr. Kudzai Mutsure said the move recognises the important role primary education plays in developing confident communicators.
"Before a learner becomes a confident debater or accomplished public speaker in high school, they begin by learning to read, write, spell and express themselves under the guidance of dedicated primary school teachers," she said.
Sr. Mutsure said the addition of primary school participants would help nurture communication and critical thinking skills from an early age, creating a stronger foundation for future debaters and public speakers.
Title sponsor CBZ Bank has committed a prize fund of US$30,000 for this year's edition, with Sr. Mutsure crediting the bank's continued support for the tournament's growth.
"The partnership has enabled the competition to grow beyond Dominican Convent and reach schools from across Zimbabwe," she said.
The two-day tournament runs from Friday through Saturday, bringing together learners from primary and secondary schools across the country to compete in debate and public speaking events.
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