By Jones Gadama
The Center for Governance and Leadership (Cegol), in partnership with Story Lab, a media and journalism outreach program at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas), and with support from Golden Peacock Hotel, recently held the preliminary stage of the inaugural Blantyre City Public Speaking Competition for Secondary Schools.
Over 50 students from 14 public and private secondary schools in Blantyre participated in the event, which aimed to sharpen communication skills among secondary school students.
After a keenly contested preliminary stage, 15 students emerged victorious and qualified for the grand finale, scheduled to take place on June 13 at Golden Peacock Hotel.
The qualified students are Kwangu Kachiwala and Brian Vinkhumbo from Njamba Secondary School, Michael Kantema and Precious Luweya from Chichiri Secondary School, Blessings Phambala and Elijah Tembo from Blantyre Secondary School, Angella Meya and Tazenga Mhango from Henry Henderson School of Excellence, Blessings Nyalapa and Eve Kaime from Swema Private Secondary School, Watipatsa Maxon from Bangwe Secondary School, Fly Kantefa from Jacaranda Secondary School, Edmund Mitochi from Limbe Community Day Secondary School, Richard Malemia from PACT Secondary School, and Gonani Henry from Namalimwe Community Day Secondary School.
According to Cegol team leader Chimwemwe Kaonga, the grand finale promises to be an exciting event, with the winner taking home a cash prize of K500,000.
“We are hopeful that the qualified contestants will get into intensive preparations ahead of the grand finale,” Kaonga said. He added that the competition’s success may lead to its expansion to more schools across Malawi, pending funding availability.
The competition is being conducted under the theme ‘Speak, Keep and Act the Vision of Malawi’. Story Lab coordinator and Mubas’ media and journalism lecturer Andrew Kaponya explained that the competition was introduced after noting that most secondary school students struggle with public speaking once they are selected to university.
“We would like to use this contest as a platform for sharpening their communication skills,” Kaponya said.
The competition’s focus on public speaking skills is timely, given the importance of effective communication in various aspects of life. By providing a platform for secondary school students to showcase their public speaking skills, the competition aims to build confidence and enhance their ability to articulate their thoughts and ideas.
The grand finale, scheduled for June 13, promises to be an exciting event, with the 15 qualified students set to battle it out for the top prize.
The competition’s organizers hope that the event will not only identify talented students but also inspire others to develop their public speaking skills.
The Blantyre City Public Speaking Competition is a valuable initiative that aims to promote effective communication skills among secondary school students.
The competition’s success will not only depend on the talent and preparation of the contestants but also on the support of the organizers, sponsors, and the community at large.
