The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa and Freedom Mutanda
TWO Chipangayi Secondary School pupils scooped the first and second prizes after outshining their peers in an essay writing competition held at the learning institution last week Friday.
The colourful ceremony, whose theme revolved around child marriages, their effects and how to combat the scourge, was bankrolled by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Platform for Youth and Community Development.
Chipo Mufambi (15) and Nyasha Mandiyamba (16) came out tops in a contest pitting pupils drawn from Chipangayi, Rimbi, Checheche and Takwirira high schools.
Mufambi received US$150 for tuition fees, US$100 for uniforms and US$50 for stationery for coming out first.
For settling for second position, Mandiyamba got US$150 for tuition fees and US$50 worth of stationery.
Another prize went to a Rimbi High School pupil, Precious Segede.
The two read out their winning essays in front of their peers, teachers and the visiting dignitaries whose head of delegation was the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) director, Ms Roselyn Hanzi.
Ms Peggy Tavagadza, ZLHR projects lawyer, said they were impressed by the array of talent that participated in the competition.
“In the past, we used to regard such learning institutions as Tsambe (St Augustine’s) very highly but today we witnessed talent of high calibre. Chipangayi has proved that they can produce pupils that perform exceptionally well. Well done, girls,” she said.
The winning essays touched on several aspects relating to why the bane of child marriages continues to rear its ugly head.
CONGRATULATIONS . . . Chipo Mufambi of Chipangayi Secondary School with her headmaster, Mr James Dhube
Poverty and traditional beliefs as well as certain religious doctrines which are at variance with the rights of the girl child were cited as some of the major contributing factors.
In an interview with The Manica Post, Mufambi said winning the essay writing competition inspired her to take her studies seriously in order to go all the way and acquire a tertiary qualification so as to become an ambassador of promoting the girl child’s rights.
“I am really excited about the prize. Henceforth, I am aspiring to become a lawyer if I pass my ‘A’ Level studies in three years’ time and proceed to university. For the essay writing competition, I held a number of interviews and also researched on the Internet,” she said.
Chipangayi High School headmaster, Mr James Dhube, said he was proud of his teachers and pupils.
He also saluted the school development committee for its support in availing wi-fi facilities to the school.
“I am over the moon and I pay tribute to the teachers, parents and the students for utilising the wi-fi facilities for research purposes,” he said.
