Marist Brothers Clinch Fourth Consecutive Old Mutual Schools Quiz Championship

Marist Brothers High School of Nyanga, Manicaland, has once again stamped its authority on the national stage, lifting the 2025 Old Mutual Schools Quiz trophy — an extraordinary fourth consecutive triumph for this academic powerhouse.

By Dickson Bandera

This year’s contest attracted an impressive 326 schools from across the country, all vying for the coveted title. After rigorous provincial rounds, the final stretch brought together 27 of Zimbabwe’s brightest minds at Heritage Village in Harare to battle it out at the national finals, with six schools advancing to the semi-finals.

The first semi-final saw Marist Brothers, Pamushana, and Rusununguko lock horns, while the second semi-final featured Mufakose, St Anthony’s, and Fletcher High. Mufakose (Harare) and Rusununguko (Mashonaland East) bowed out at this stage, clearing the path for the top four to fight for the ultimate crown.

With Marist Brothers crowned champions, St Anthony’s High (Masvingo) came second, Pamushana (Masvingo) third, and Fletcher High (Midlands) from Midlands took fourth place.

This year’s edition marked the 42nd anniversary of the National Quiz, celebrating more than four decades of shaping sharp minds and nurturing intellectual curiosity among Zimbabwe’s youth.”

The Old Mutual Schools Quiz is organised in partnership with the Book of African Records under the Institute of African Knowledge (INSTAK). This unique collaboration infuses the competition with a blend of financial literacy, Pan-Africanism, curriculum-based learning, and wide-ranging general knowledge.

With this latest triumph, Marist Brothers cements its reputation among the country’s finest academic institutions. The winning team — Pride Mwanaka, Maxwell Dzobo, Rodney Matikari, and Prayer Kaitano — dazzled throughout the tournament with their composure, quick thinking, and profound grasp of knowledge, brushing aside every challenger that came their way.

Clad in their distinctive sky-blue blazers trimmed with golden ribbons, crisp white shirts with blue stripped neckties, grey trousers, and polished black shoes, the Marist Brothers team tackled questions with precision and an air of unshakeable confidence. 

Their answers flowed with such speed that it left audiences in awe — proof of ingenuity in the young minds and countless hours of preparation and an unyielding drive to defend the school’s legacy.

True to tradition, Marist Brothers brought along a full team of ten students: four competing and six understudying. The understudies underwent the same rigorous training, ensuring that the school’s winning streak is built on careful succession and continuity.

The quiz tested a wide spectrum of knowledge, taking questions from subjects including economics, science, history, sports, the arts, international affairs, and general issues. Marist’s mastery across these fields once again confirmed its standing as a breeding ground for young, sharp Zimbabwean minds.

Minister of Skills Audit and Development, Professor Paul Mavima, who was the Guest of Honour at the awards ceremony and dinner, praised the initiative, saying it deserves unwavering support as it prepares children to think critically for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He commended the students for their dedication and urged schools to invest in knowledge-based competitions that nurture well-rounded citizens.

“As we look toward the future, we must be intentional about supporting initiatives like this one. The Fourth Industrial Revolution demands adaptive, innovative, and resilient minds. Artificial intelligence, data analytics, climate change adaptation, and entrepreneurship are all fields that will shape the global economy.

We must equip our youth with both the technical and soft skills to navigate this terrain. And it begins here with curiosity, with confidence, with communication,” he said.

Prof Mavima was joined by Old Mutual Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer Mr Sam Matsekete and INSTAK Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Kwame Muzawazi, both of whom congratulated the winners and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting educational excellence.

Old Mutual Zimbabwe invested a total of US$16,000 in prizes this year, choosing to prioritise flexible cash rewards over fixed items such as solar systems — a shift that allows schools to decide how best to support their own unique needs. 

For their excellence, Marist Brothers took home five cellphones, five laptops and US$7,000 in prize money, while St Anthony’s received five cellphones, five laptops and US$5,000. Pamushana were awarded three laptops and US$3,000, and Fletcher walked away with a laptop and US$1,000.

Speaking after the victory, Marist Brothers Quiz Master and teacher Mr Committee Nyamagwada attributed the win to faith, hard work, and a strong vision for nurturing young minds.

“We thank our Lord for giving us good health all the time. Then secondly, it is about good work, about hard working, because every time when we open schools that’s when we start preparations for these competitions,” Mr Nyamagwada said.

Asked about winning four times in a row and what it means for other learners, he added:

“We are saying we are coming back next year, God being our help. We are coming back because we are not going to give up. It’s work hard as usual but God knows what is going to happen next year.”

Mr Nyamagwada also praised Old Mutual Zimbabwe’s continued support, describing it as a powerful force behind Marist’s success.

“We cherish their support much. They’ve been the source of our inspiration throughout. They’ve supported us through and through and if they can continue doing the same, I think they are doing a lot for us. Children are plagued with the problem of drug and substance abuse, so if they are kept busy this way, we’ll win most of them and lose a few,” he said.

He explained the school’s unique approach of bringing understudies to the quiz stage so that future champions are groomed early.

“We brought ten, though four are the participants, but we brought four because we have a junior policy. We want the juniors to learn as well and when the seniors leave, the juniors will be able to take their positions and they won’t be nervous, they won’t have stage fright, so that’s why we brought ten.”

The Old Mutual Schools Quiz remains a vital platform for nurturing critical thinking and exposing students to knowledge beyond the classroom. It challenges young people to connect what they learn with the world they live in — building a generation that is curious, informed, and ready to lead.