25 AUGUST 2016
NAMIB TIMES
COMMUNITY NEWS
9
Kavango East region are the 2016 Debating Champions Sharlien Tjambari
On Saturday evening the Swakopmund community witnessed the final debate between Omusati region and Kavango East region, the only two regions which made it through to the finals. The finals and award ceremony took place at Coastal High School in Mondesa, Swakopmund.
The 2016 Champions, Kavango East region
The Group of learners who will represent Namibia at the World Debating Championships in Sweden next year The best male award winner Sinyepe Mannmen, Ms Anderson the Superintendent of Community and Corporate Relations at LHU and the best female award winner Paulina Kamati
The motion discussed during the finals was “should the speed limits be removed or not?.” The team from Kavango East region was in favour of the motion and said speed limits should be removed so that the drivers can drive freely and arrive at their destinations on time. The team also pointed out that speed limits only contribute 5% to road accidents. The team from Omusati region was against the motion and said speed limits should not be removed and claimed that speed limits are the only thing preventing a lot of road accidents and should speed limits be removed it will cause danger to wildlife and to children and school children on the streets, because road users will be driving as they please. Strong points were raised during the debate and in the end the team from Kavango East region won the debate and walked away as champions. The Governor of Erongo region Mr Cleophas Mutjavikua, said debating creates a platform for learners across to showcase their debating skills by competing with their peers from all 14 regions. Mutjavikua highlighted the importance of taking part in debating at school level. He said that high school debating mostly focuses on issues affecting our society in a competitive but respectful manner, “helping to prepare our learners to become ideal Namibian adults. This debate is so important that it brought together our learners from all 14 regions, once again emphasizing the notion of one Namibia one Nation”. Mutjavikua also said debates force learners to solve problems and look at issues from a different perspective. Debate creates opportunities for learners to be creative and to deliver their thoughts in persuasive manners. The governor further said that debaters become better readers and are better informed than their peers and debate teaches learners moral values. Learners who will represent Namibia at the World Debating Championships 2017 are as follows: Paulina Kamati from Oshikoto region, Sinyepe Mannmen from Kavango East region, Isascar Tjandero from Karas region, Estera Shitana from Erongo region, Thelma Mackinza from Khomas region, Rabonzy Uxams from Kunene and Martha Shaduka from Erongo region. Paulina Kamati was the best female debater while Sinyepe Mann-men received the best male award. They each received N$1 000 in cash, a certificate and a trophy sponsored by Langer Heirich Uranium (LHU). Erongo region came in the third place and received N$3 500 from the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) fund and N$1 500 from LHU, Omusati came second and received N$2 000 from LHU and N$5 000 from MVA fund. Kavango East region walked away with N$12 500 in total, N$5 500 from LHU and N$7 000 from MVA fund, a winning trophy and certificates. MVA Fund was the main sponsor of the event with a total contribution of N$100 000, B2 Gold with N$53 000 and LHU contributed N$20 000.