The Speak And Solve Initiative (SASI) debate and the National Universities Quiz Challenge which have been since inception contested at the national stage by state universities have been devolved to all provinces around Zimbabwe for the first time giving an opportunity to every higher learning institution to take part.

The decentralization of the two flagship events was SAYWHAT’s response to young people’s recommendation that the two competitions should open doors to all higher learning institutions to participate for inclusivity’s sake.

A total of 47 higher learning institutions including universities, polytechnics, Teacher training colleges, Agricultural colleges and Vocational Training Centers around Zimbabwe took part in the provincial based debate and quiz competitions which were hosted at provincial level by SAYWHAT for the first time since its inception in 2003.

Tertiary institutions that participated in the two events were distributed as follows: Manicaland, Midlands and Masvingo provinces had six (6) each, Bulawayo province had 11, Harare province had 10 and Mashonaland province had eight (8).

Mutare Polytechnic emerged winners for the Manicaland provincial quiz with Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) as a runner up. 

In Masvingo province, Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) took the first position while Masvingo Polytechnic came second.

In Bulawayo province, Gwanda State University, the national quiz defending champions, took the first position and National University of Science and Technology (NUST) came second.   

Harare Polytechnic defied the odds and came first after defeating the most adored University of Zimbabwe followed by Harare Institute of Technology which came second.

Mashonaland province was dominated by universities alone as Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) took the first position followed by Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).

Midlands State University (MSU), the champions of the second edition of the national quiz competitions took the first position followed by Gweru Polytechnic.

The SASI debate winner for Harare province is the defending champion of the national debate competitions, the University of Zimbabwe, followed by Women’s University in Africa.

 In Mashonaland, Chibero Agricultural College scooped the provincial winner of the debate competition followed by Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).

Bulawayo Polytechnic and Lupane State University (LSU) will progress to the national debate competitions after drawing a shocker against National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and Gwanda State University (GSU).

Masvingo province will see Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) and Morganstar Teachers’ College (MTC) proceeding to the nationals after the duo came first and second respectively.

Midlands province will be represented at the national stage by the Midlands State University (MSU) and Gweru Polytechnic as two elbowed out their competitors at provincial level.

For the first time in the SASI debate competitions, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences will not be participating at the national stage after bowing down to Africa University (AU) and Mutare Polytechnic.

The winners from the provincial debate and quiz competitions and their respective second runner ups are progressing to the national finals in Harare at the SAYWHAT Studio of Choice scheduled to run from 31 July to 4 August 2022. 

The final quiz and debate competitions will see a total of 48 young people from different tertiary institutions taking part in the competitions. A range of prizes have been lined up for the winners.