The Namibian and the Namibian Schools Debating Association (NSDA) recently partnered up for the second year in a row to host the The Namibian Critical Thinking Competition – with the Oshana region emerging as the overall winners. Held at Eenhana for the first time, debaters from all around the country – all 14 regions, in fact, competed over a period of three days, discussing real-world issues and offering possible solutions.
The competition’s official launch happened in Windhoek on Thursday, 19 April where vice president of the NSDA, Adelinu Anton, shared information on the organisation and its challenges. As of late, the NSDA has managed to send national teams to three world championships in Greece, Qatar and Scotland. However, because of financial difficulties, the organisation could no longer sustain competitors although this year, the next World Schools Debating Championships are set to take place in Zagreb, Croatia from 17 to 27 July.
“Some offices find it difficult to allow pupils to take part in the debates,” Anton said. And when it comes to the national competition, sometimes all 14 regions do not compete. “We want to uplift the standards but regions unfortunately do not send all of the competitors.”
NSDA is a non-profit organisation that usually meets during the school terms. However, Anton admitted that they do not have enough funds to coordinate activities. “Our main responsibility is to oversee and host the championships,” Anton concluded.
Speaking at the event, acting editor of The Namibian Christof Maletsky emphasised the importance of education. “It is the tool that you can use to change the world around you. Debating is also seen as something that sharpens your English language proficiency.” He further added that the competition was meant to create a thinking nation. In fact, “a nation that will not just be a group of ‘yes men’, but give valuable input and help drive Namibia forward – not just locally but internationally”.
After an interesting mock debate which included the motion ‘the media has become too powerful’, led the team proposition to ask “have the cameramen asked to take a picture of me? No, they haven’t! Media does news in a way that allows them to make money!” Team opposition however argued that the media has not brainwashed the nation, but it’s a platform that we need to express ourselves.
All roads led to the small but bustling town of Eenhana during the morning of Friday, 4 May as debaters gathered at Eenhana Primary School to march for debate. Chanting “we are debaters, hey, hey!”, the team certainly made their presence known as residents peeked from their homes and business to witness a mini-revolution. Debaters ended up at the Monte Carlos Guest House which the organisers called home and the official opening went smoothly.
Speaking at the opening of the event, reverend !Xara Sharifu shared a scripture reading and prayer, while encouraging debate. “When we debate, we do it with understanding. I am advocating for critical thinking guided by research. This will help us form a sound critical estimation when dealing with our problems.”
Amos Nangolo, the mayor of Eenhana, was also in attendance. “The importance of debate cannot be overemphasised as it sharpens students’ ability to listen and articulate their thoughts.”
The first three rounds included prepared motions to set apart the winners in the final after a gruelling two-day battle.
“The youth has the ability,” NSDA president Martha Namundjebo said. “The NSDA believes that the national competitions depend on knowledge, skills and competency. NSDA is still striving to create opportunities with young Namibians. But one of our objectives is to introduce the spirit of debate,” she said. “The NSDA is run by lecturers and teachers who do not get a cent, we are simply volunteers. It’s not easy to retain the members. Most of the international activities are cancelled due to a lack of funds.”
Sadly, the debaters are affected strongly by this.
“Let us all go back and lead this country,” The Namibian’s general manager Sieggie Veii-Mujoro said. “We need to invest in our children. And to the teachers, thank you. This is a pure case of commitment.”
As the patron of the NSDA, Nico Kaiyamo believed that it was important to focus on the youth. “Leaders of the Namibian National Students Organisation (Nanso) went on to occupy leadership positions in civic or student organisations. Take Nanso seriously. Some of you might even be future presidents.” Stating that his involvement in critical thinking spun him into the direction of a lawmaker, Kaiyamo said debate also sharpened his skills in debate and in business. “It is my wish that lawmakers be invited to this so they can elevate debate to the next level.”
The final debate consisted of the motion ‘digital media will ultimately replace print media’. With seven adjudicators, it was definitely a tough battle to oversee.
The Khomas region as the proposition team put forward a strong argument. “Media is a way of spreading information. When we look at the word ‘ultimately’, it will be 100 or 200 years from now meaning it will replace print media. It is the rapid growth. Print has no future, even as a newspaper. People are supporting the website more and dominance entails replacement. If digital media is playing the role of print media, why won’t it die?”
Team opposition, or the Oshana region’s argument was also fair: “Print media is still in existance. Superiority does not assure replacement. Also it reaches people who do not have access to devices. A smartphone costs more than N$1 000, books are less than that. Digital media is 10 times the amount of print media. We believe that they can exist at the same time. With digital media, you have to have the sense of sight, so it outcasts those who cannot see.”
Bringing more points about visual and audio impairments as well as the affordability of the both digital and print media, it was a battle for a stunning prize of N$15 000 as well as a floating trophy. Unfortunately for Khomas, the Oshana team emerged as the winners of the competition. The adjudicators were looking for style, content and strategy and Oshana ticked all three boxes.
The Oshikoto region’s team, who took third place, walked away with N$5 000 while the Khomas region took home
N$10 000 and a floating trophy.
Pashala Haundjono from the Ohangwena region emerged as the best female speaker, pocketing N$1 000 and a small trophy while Khomas regions’ Christian Prinsloo received the same prize.
Next year, the competition will take place in the //Karas region.
