By Tatiana Mhararira
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) won the inaugural Fiscal Justice and Economic Development Moot Court Competition, recently held at its Hebert Chitepo Law School in Masvingo.
The competition was organized by the Hebert Chitepo Law School in partnership with ZIMCODD, aiming to raise youth awareness about critical issues in Zimbabwe related to public finance, accountability, and transparency.
The GZU team, consisting of Venessa Msipa, Dorcas Makanganisa, and Tinotenda Muyambo, showcased exceptional talent, with Msipa receiving the Best Orator Award.
Participating universities included Africa University, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University, and the University of Zimbabwe.
The event attracted high court judges, legal professionals, lawyers, university students, and community members, highlighting its significance in the legal community.
The GZU team has consistently demonstrated their expertise in legal and advocacy competitions, solidifying the reputation of the University of Choice’s law school as a formidable contender at national, regional, and international levels.
Winners of the moot court competition received US$500 each, which will be applied towards their school fees.
ZIMCODD Acting Executive Director John Maketo said the importance of the competition was that it allowed institutions such as universities to shape the students’ career paths and have instilled knowledge to young people on economic development.
“We have achieved much in encouraging youths around issues of economic development and issues of economic governance. It is prudent for more legal practitioners to take up this line of work in the future particularly on economic governance,” said Maketo.
GZU Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo, represented by the Executive Dean of Agriculture and Engineering, Dr. Xavier Poshiwa, said the moot court competitions aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1.
“The competition aligns well with Zimbabwe’s NDS1 which seeks to create a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030 and one of the key pillars is good governance and the rule of law which are fundamental to physical transparency and accountability,” said Dr Poshiwa.
