Minister Mavima poses for a photo with Marist Brothers, the 2025 Champions during the awards ceremony
By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe must continue prioritising the equipping of young people with both soft and technical skills if they are to thrive in an increasingly dynamic global economy, a senior government official has said.
Addressing guests at the prize-giving ceremony and dinner marking the close of the National Quiz Competitions at the Heritage Village in Harare on Friday night, Minister of Skills Audit and Development, Professor Paul Mavima (MP), applauded the initiative as a vital platform deserving of national support.
“As we look toward the future, we must be intentional about supporting initiatives like this one. The Fourth Industrial Revolution demands adaptive, innovative, and resilient minds. Artificial intelligence, data analytics, climate change adaptation, and entrepreneurship are all fields that will shape the global economy.
“We must equip our youth with both the technical and soft skills to navigate this terrain. And it begins here with curiosity, with confidence, with communication,” he said.
The Old Mutual Schools Quiz is organised in partnership with the Books of African Records under the Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK). This collaboration infuses the competition with financial literacy, Pan-Africanism, curriculum-based learning, and wide-ranging general knowledge.
This year’s edition attracted 326 schools from across Zimbabwe, culminating in an electrifying final where Marist Brothers High School once again demonstrated its dominance by securing the top prize for a remarkable fourth consecutive year.
St Anthony’s, Pamushana, and Fletcher High School rounded off the quartet of finalists, with St Anthony’s taking second place, Pamushana finishing third, and Fletcher coming fourth.
Old Mutual Zimbabwe, the longstanding sponsor of the competition, invested US$16,000 in prizes this year. Instead of awarding fixed assets, the company opted for cash and digital gadgets to give schools flexibility in addressing their most urgent needs. Marist Brothers took home five cellphones, five laptops, and US$7,000 in prize money. St Anthony’s earned the same gadgets and US$5,000, while Pamushana received three laptops and US$3,000. Fletcher High School received a laptop and US$1,000.
Professor Mavima, who previously served as Deputy Minister and later as Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, said his dedication to nurturing young minds remains the cornerstone of his public service career. He noted that the quiz format nurtures skills in demand globally.
“When we speak of skills development in today’s world, we speak of a multifaceted process that goes beyond classroom walls. We speak of practical application, adaptability, critical thinking, and communication, most of which are fostered and nurtured in the quiz environment. These are not just quiz skills, but they are employability skills, leadership skills, and life skills,” noted the Minister.
Zimbabwe is driving skills development under Education 5.0, which places emphasis on industrialisation and innovation. The country’s first comprehensive skills audit in 2018 revealed that Zimbabwe’s skills base was at only 38.25 percent, exposing a 61.75 percent gap threatening national competitiveness. To tackle this, a dedicated ministry was created in 2023 to lead programmes that build human capital, fuel economic growth, and boost productivity.
Minister Mavima has remained at the forefront of this effort, championing initiatives that broaden young people’s capabilities and strengthen Zimbabwe’s standing globally.
President Mnangagwa has consistently echoed this message. Speaking recently at the opening of the Junior Parliament, the President reinforced his administration’s push to prepare children for the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution under the Smart Zimbabwe 2030 Strategy, which aims to equip 1.5 million young Zimbabweans with vital digital and entrepreneurial skills.
Minister Mavima also highlighted the role of the Schools Quiz in instilling national pride and safeguarding cultural heritage in an era of rapid technological change.
“This competition goes beyond mere academic exercise; it is the preservation of our national identity. In a world that is becoming digital, fast-paced, and interconnected, it is easy for traditional knowledge and heritage to be eroded.
Team Rusununguko went all the way into the top 6
“But through events such as this quiz, we anchor our young people in their roots, we build national pride, and we promote cultural continuity. A learner who can recall his or her traditional customs is one who will walk into the future with a strong sense of self-belonging,” he emphasized.
He urged the nation to draw inspiration from the 42nd anniversary of the Old Mutual Quiz by renewing its commitment to nurturing future generations, preserving Zimbabwean identity, and building a resilient, competitive economy.
Through its sustained backing of the Schools Quiz, Old Mutual Zimbabwe continues to set an example for corporate social responsibility — investing in education, expanding opportunities for young people, and shaping a future anchored in knowledge and heritage.
