Radio Debating Introducing Newcomers

Ernst Calitz
Debating has become a more common activity over the years in Namibia and both debating and the debaters have been evolving. With debating at Windhoek Gymnasium being no exception. Radio Energy is hosting a debate competition from the 17th of October 2017 until the 30th of November 2017 and Windhoek Gymnasium will be taking part along with other schools.
We asked Mr. Fannes Namhunya, one of the directors of the competition, how debating influences the daily life of a student? He said, “They need to come with problem solving strategies, they need to be creative and debating teaches you that. You are presented with a problem where you need to find a solution and create a model to solve the problem. As for creativity, you are forced to come up with new ideas and plans.” Debating on the radio is going to create a new platform where children’s voices can be heard.
Thanks to the broadcasting of the debates more people and students will be interested in joining debating in the future and then we can have an even larger debate society in Namibia. Debating does not just influence the lives of students, but it can also improves their lives, in the future, Mr. Fannes had this to say. “Obviously their [debaters] minds are now more stimulated, so it’s going to be easier for them to make difficult life choices in the future. They are then also more prepared to handle stressful situations and are more prepared to find good solutions to their problems. This will also help them in their future careers to be able to excel in life and make a success out of it.”
Everyone can benefit from debating, and the radio debates are going to be a good way of introducing people to the world of debating. The radio debate platform is going to broadcast across Namibia and is going to project the voices of the debaters and bring to light their opinions.