By Netshakhuma and McGeorge Mbare
THE National Annual Science, Sport and Arts Festival (NASSAF) competitions have commenced at St Mary’s High School and Oakleigh House Trust School in Beitbridge.
The competition began on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, instead of the originally planned date of Tuesday, 22 September.
Unofficial sources claim that the delay was due to technical issues and the late arrival of delegates from other provinces.
The Ziyah News Network reached out to the NASSAF officials for comment but didn’t get response by the time of publishing.
Beitbridge district has become the first district in Matabeleland South Province to host Zimbabwe’s premier school co-curricular festival.
The festival rotates among Zimbabwe’s ten provinces on a ten-year cycle, making this the first time Matabeleland South has hosted the national event.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, has attracted thousands of learners, teachers, education officials, and visitors from the country’s ten provinces.
NASSAF features competitions dominated by Modelling, Dance, Choir, Quiz, Spelling Bee, Poetry, and Public Speaking, which nurture the minds and intelligence of learners nationwide.
Participation in competitions such as Live Bands, Mbira, and Marimba further nurtures, develops, and reveals talent among young creators in academic settings.
Among the main objectives of the competition is enabling students develop skills and gain recognition nationwide as they showcase their talents across various disciplines.