By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
OAKLEIGH House Trust School is making waves beyond Zimbabwe’s borders after an impressive showing at an international public speaking and quiz competition held in Gaborone, Botswana.
The school participated in the competition from December 10 to 15 at the University of Botswana, an event co-sponsored by the Mabogo Dinku Trust and Ramaphane Law School, among others.
The competition officially began on December 11, drawing participants from Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, Oakleigh House Trust School debate and public speaking coach and Accounts teacher, Nkosenhle Ncube, said the school sent a team of nine junior participants to represent Beitbridge and Zimbabwe.
“These were Millicent, Angel, Pride, Nicole Mukandi, Nicole Maheya, Nocdonald, Boitumelo, Nyasha, and Hope, and I had the honour of coaching them,” he said.
According to Ncube, various confidence-building techniques were used during the preparation phase to ensure the learners were mentally and emotionally ready to face international competition.
“We gave learners opportunities to present at school assemblies and discuss random topics so that they could overcome stage fright and build confidence,” he said.
He said the school strategically selected learners to compete in the initial rounds of the public speaking category.
“We entered five learners Nicole Mukandi, Angel Simari, Hope Moyo, Nyasha, and Boitumelo into the first three rounds, competing against 72 participants,” Mr. Ncube said.
He said the results that followed exceeded expectations and demonstrated the effectiveness of the preparation and training the learners had undergone.
“After the third round, all five of our learners made it into the top 24 and progressed to the quarter-finals and then the semi-finals,” he said.
Ncube noted, the semi-final round was highly competitive, making Angel Simari’s achievement particularly outstanding.
“Angel Simari emerged as the top-ranked participant at the semi-final stage,” he said.
“In the finals, there were five competitors, and four were from Oakleigh House,” Ncube said.
“We finished fifth overall, and Angel received a medal for her outstanding performance. Although our quiz team only reached the quarter-finals, the experience was still very valuable.”
Beyond the competition, learners also benefited from educational and cultural exposure during their stay in Botswana.
“The students visited the National Museum of Botswana, where they learned about the Tsodilo Hills, Palapye as the Ngwato capital, wood carving, and the Okavango Delta,” said Ncube.
He said the exposure complemented classroom learning and helped broaden the learners’ understanding of regional history and culture.
“Through this competition, our learners developed clarity of speech, voice modulation, vocabulary, and strong body language,” he said.
Ncube said the experience also strengthened the learners’ critical thinking and communication skills.
“They learned how to organize their thoughts, analyze complex topics, think quickly, and present logical arguments. Most importantly, they built confidence and self-belief,” he said.
He emphasized that the school’s participation in such events has long-term benefits not only for learners but for the wider Beitbridge community.
“Engaging in these competitions elevates the school’s reputation, encourages community pride, and attracts motivated learners,” he noted.