Staff Writer
Zimbabwe National Moot Court Team has emerged as European Moot Court Champions, defeating France in the final of an international moot-court competition in Romania on Monday.
Zimbabwe, the only African country in the competition, came out tops ahead of finalists, France; The Netherlands, Greece, Estonia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, The Czech Republic, and hosts Romania.
The champions were represented by a squad of eight students aged 13 to 16, including two 13-year-olds, as the team demonstrated advanced advocacy skills in a simulated International Criminal Court case.
The competition required timed oral submissions, with judges able to interrupt and question speakers during advocacy.
The final squad brought together students from six Zimbabwean senior schools.
The team’s members were: Tinodaishe Cole Makwiranzou (15), St John’s College, Team Captain; Amyra Jain (15), Hellenic Academy, Deputy Team Captain; Ziyanda Inzwirashe Madison Zawe (15), Tynwald High School; Giovanni Tawananyasha Nyatsambo (16), Tynwald High School; Tafadzwa Samuel Mwagura (15), Milestone College; Mukudzei Collen Junior Mharadzano (13), Milestone College; Courtney Falees Joseph (15), Bulawayo Adventist School; and Sarah Arielle Msipa (13), Celebration International School.
Team captain, Tinodaishe Makwiranzou, said the victory was about more than representing Zimbabwe internationally; it demonstrated the potential of young Zimbabweans to excel in elite advocacy and prestigious legal forums.
“As the only African team in the competition, the team’s success reflected the determination, resilience, and excellence that Zimbabwe’s youth can achieve,” he said.
Amyra Jain, the deputy captain said that it was unforgettable experience for her. “Our ability to take every round as it came until we eventually won helped us prove to ourselves that we deserved to be there and deserved to achieve everything that we did.”
Ahead of the Romania tournament, about 200 students responded to a national call to represent Zimbabwe internationally. Candidates underwent virtual and in-person trials at Dominican Convent, assessed by legal professionals and law students from the University of Zimbabwe and Herbert Chitepo Law School.
The selected team was coached by Advocate Nqobile Dube, founder and head coach of Ideas Matter Academy, with support from assistant coach, Natasha Dhliwayo.
Training was conducted largely online, often from 6pm to 10pm, allowing students in different locations to prepare alongside their demanding academic schedules.
On the significance of the victory, coach Advocate Dube said: “This victory belongs first and foremost to the eight students. They represented Zimbabwe with extraordinary discipline, courage and intellectual maturity. What makes the achievement particularly special is that they were not simply competing against other teenagers.
They were competing against students who were, in many cases, older and more experienced.”
The team also received sponsorship support, including US$12,000 from NetOne, contributing to the international campaign.
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