The students driving national progress on health and education, the annual national university quiz challenge gets underway tomorrow.
The quiz challenge gets underway, bringing together some of the country’s brightest young minds to engage on issues that shape their health and education.
Convened annually since 2019 by Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT), the 8th edition is being held from 25 – 26 June 2026 at the SAYWHAT Studio of Choice in Hatfield, Harare.
In a statement, SAYWHAT confirmed the competitions.
“The intellectual platform has drawn participants from 17 universities across Zimbabwe, reinforcing its growing reach after attracting 16 universities in 2025.
“Arrupe Jesuit University joins a diverse field comprising State Universities, Private Universities, Faith-Based Universities, and Open & Distance Learning Universities.
“This edition of the Quiz Challenge is driven by the theme: “Localizing Global Commitments: Students Driving National Progress on Health and Education.”
“The theme reflects the increasingly important role of students and young people in translating global development priorities into practical, home-grown solutions that respond to Zimbabwe’s realities.”
Throughout the challenge, students will demonstrate their understanding of key national development frameworks such NDS2; National Youth Empowerment Strategy (2026 – 2030); the Multi-sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024 – 2030); the Cyber and Data Protection Regulations (2024); the Model and Benchmarking Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy for Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions (2024), among others policies that contributes to youth health, education and overall wellbeing.
NUST enters the Challenge as the defending champion, having won the 2025 edition.
While former winners HIT, UZ, MSU, and GZU will be looking to reclaim the roving trophy, all participating universities enter the challenge with everything to play for as they seek to etch their names into the Challenge’s growing history.
Beyond the competition, the Quiz Challenge has evolved into a strategic national platform that convenes Government ministries, universities, development partners, professional bodies, and the private sector around issues affecting young people.
With Minister Tinoda Machakaire as Guest of Honour, UNESCO ROSA’s Head of Health and Wellbeing for Education, Dr Patricia Machawira, representatives of the National Deans Association of Zimbabwe, and private sector partners such as Doves Life Assurance and Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe in attendance, the event embodies the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach increasingly required to deliver sustainable progress in health, education, and youth empowerment.
The collective participation of these stakeholders reflects growing confidence in the capacity of students and youth to contribute meaningfully to national policy discourse and development outcomes.
As the competition begins, attention now turns to the students taking to the stage, not only to compete, but also to demonstrate the capacity of young people to meaningfully contribute to Vision 2030 and Zimbabwe’s National development aspirations.
As the nation awaits the crowning of the 2026 National Universities Quiz Challenge champions, audiences can follow the action live on the SAYWHAT Facebook page (Link: https://www.facebook.com/SAYWHATOrg) where the challenge will be broadcast live.
