The 2016 Pan African Universities Debate Championship came to a glittering end on Friday, 16 December with a glamorous ceremony that was held concurrently with the debate and public speaking finals.
In his address to delegates at the end of the prestigious weeklong event, Midlands State University Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Kadmiel Wekwete applauded participants for delivering a highly informative, enlightening and entertaining competition where participants discussed in depth and at length, critical issues affecting not only the African continent but also the world.
Professor Wekwete noted that the PAUDC 2016 had left a lasting impression on the Midlands State University community and implored all and sundry to find ways to ways of translating the solutions offered by the debate championship into practical action.
The Acting Vice Chancellor also thanked all delegates to the PAUDC 2016 for honouring Midlands State University with their presence, noting that the institution looks forward to hosting the delegates in different capacities in the future.
In addition to hosting the finals of the event, the closing ceremony also witnessed the handover of the tournament to the 2017 Pan African Universities Debate Championship hosts, Cameroon. Tanzania was announced as hosts for the 2018 tournament.
Wits University emerged as major victors on the night after winning both sets of closely contested public speaking and debate finals. For their efforts, Wits University represented by Bongani Masilela and Mpilwenhle Mpilo Ndlovu walked away with the prestigious PAUDC trophy and the public speaking trophy.
Midlands State University students, Carol Machingura, Dino Ndlovu and Zwelithini Xaba represented the institution with distinction with Carol Machingura emerging as first runner up in the public speaking competition while Xaba and Ndlovu went as far as the semi finals of the debate tournament, in an enthralling performance. Zwelithini Xaba added to his impressive list of accolades after being crowned Zimbabwe’s best speaker at the tournament.
We congratulate all participants to the PAUDC 2016 tournament for their hard work and dedication.