Controversy reportedly rocked the Zimbabwean debate team at the SADC Debate Competition in Botswana, held over the weekend.
The Zimbabwean team, led by National Marwa of the Primary Schools Debate Challenge (PriDC), left many parents angry and regretful after allegations that the competition process was not handled transparently.
According to close parents, Marwa faced backlash after he allegedly changed the script, confusing them.
Some parents also claimed that he allegedly showed bias by favouring his own students, whom he allegedly wanted to place in the best positions.
Marwa, who is the founder of PriDC, was reportedly almost attacked by some parents.
“They had to confront him because they couldn’t understand how it was done.
“There is a student who was disqualified in the semi-finals, but surprisingly the same student emerged in the finals.
“So, we suspected something was fishy, and that’s when the situation turned tense,” said a close source.
Further allegations include a lack of proper organisation, with some bookings reportedly made at a later stage.
“It is also alleged that Marwa wanted the competition conducted strictly according to his instructions, and that this is what sparked the drama.
“Some parents accused him of acting as though the competition was not organised, even though they believed his actions were the cause of the confusion.
“It is also alleged that some parents are threatening to withdraw from future competitions, saying Marwa appeared to push his own agenda instead of the interests of parents who had invested in their children.
“We are even regretting sending our children there because they acted like they don’t know what they are doing. This event looked like it was not organised, just because of him.
“It seems he has some parents he should pay back by putting their children in better positions,” said a parent.
“This publication is in possession of audio recordings in which parents expressed their frustrations over how Marwa handled the situation.”
