Omusati debaters defend national title

Closely contested final
Three young debaters from Omusati have held on to their national title, beating teams from across Namibia at the 2026 Namport National Maritime Schools Debating Competition in Walvis Bay.
Ndapandula Lilonga
  • 1 Day Ago

The Omusati team successfully defended its title as national champion at the 2026 Namport National Maritime Schools Debating Competition, testing its debating skills against learners from all 14 regions during Walvis Bay Maritime Week.

The winning team – Diina Ngheekelwashi, Blasius Ipangelwa and Shagandjwa Namupala – impressed the judges with their research, teamwork and ability to think on their feet.

Their victory earned each learner N$5 000, while N$500 000 was awarded towards education in the Omusati Region. The team also took home the national floating trophy.

A total of 169 learners took part in the competition, debating issues linked to Namibia’s maritime sector and blue economy.

In the final, the teams tackled the motion: “This House would prioritise high-impact maritime outreach events over the integration of maritime education into the school curriculum as the primary strategy for attracting young people to the maritime sector.”

The motion challenged the learners to consider whether Namibia should focus more on large-scale outreach initiatives, such as maritime exhibitions and career events, or introduce maritime education more directly into the school curriculum.

The Omusati team argued from a youth engagement, accessibility and long-term education perspective. The learners also had to respond to opposing arguments while defending their position under pressure.

Kavango East finished second, with Otjozondjupa and Erongo among the other strong contenders.

For the learners, however, the competition was about more than taking home a trophy. It gave them a chance to strengthen their research, critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork skills while debating issues that could shape Namibia’s maritime future.

Speaking after the final, Namupala highlighted the importance of teamwork and preparation, saying the team had spent months getting ready for the competition.

The annual debate forms part of Namport’s efforts to introduce young Namibians to opportunities in the maritime sector and encourage interest in careers linked to the country’s blue economy.

For Omusati, the title defence adds another achievement to its young debaters’ growing list and strengthens the region’s presence in national academic competitions.