Namibia shines at Debate Championship

Michelline Nawatises The 2018 African Debate Championship (ADC) took place from 9 to 14 September, in Pretoria, South Africa. The championship welcomed schools from all over Africa to challenge themselves in the art of debate, structured research and public speaking.The championship used the world schools style debate format and assembled a highly qualified adjudication core for the 90 teams that participated. Christiaan Prinsloo, a grade 9 learner from Windhoek High School, spoke on the behalf of the whole group, saying they were excited to go to the debate competition. “The group we have has been in a bit of transit and are setting the bar high for future debaters to come and enable them to know what is expected of them as Namibian debaters,” he said.Debate championships grant exposure to the learners to interact, network and engage in public discourse on a myriad of issues.They benefit these learners in terms of being informed citizens who actively engaged in civic duty at an early age. Prinsloo said the debate circuit has been competitive in recent years.“We do have the capacity to win or at least make it far in tournaments, because we have proven ourselves internationally. Taking the lead in debate“I do not think we have any challenges within the team, we can surely hold our own against others; we are ready to fight our way through all the 12 rounds and hopefully bring back the first price,” Prinsloo said before the team's departure.Ivan Limbo, who is the team coach and a judge, says Namibian debating has a lot of potential. “Preparation, especially prepared motions, makes a massive difference in debates,” he said. Khomas regional governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua gave the learners her blessing and wished them luck before their departure.“I was shocked when I attended a debate competition in August; at the speed these learners could talk and the topics they were raising, left me in awe. The art of debate is so beautiful, it shows their talent and the respect for it. “My children, the only country some of us know is the republic of Namibia, it is the only country that we belong to and that we can protect, Namibia exists because of us, with this said, please go out there and continue holding the banner up high,” she said. All three Namibian teams qualified to semifinals. Two Namibian teams (A and C) were paired against each other in the one semifinal, while Namibia B defeated Uganda to qualify for finals, which was an all-Namibian affair.This was by far the best performance by Namibia at any debate competition. Twapewa-Ashihe Mungoba, a grade 10 learner from Delta Senior Secondary School scooped, the best African female speaker award and Lotto Nanghonda, a grade 9 learner at Hage Geingob High School, emerged as the best African male speaker. “Being crowned African debate champions is something that we are proud of and it means a lot for our debate circuit. The Khomas Schools Debate Association will continue to modify and upgrade the schools debate circuit, so that Namibian learners are able to compete internationally,” said Edward Shati, Khomas Schools Debate Association, coach. The African debate champions are preparing for the Orate Africa Debate competition in December.

Namibia shines at Debate Championship

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-15

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Namibia shines at Debate Championship

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-15

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