The Stetson Experience

The Young Leaders Forum provided a team from the University of Zimbabwe with links to corporate bodies, civic groups and generous individuals to assist Zimbabwe in being the African representative at the prestigious Stetson’s 15th Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition.
The University of Zimbabwe team comprising of Tinashe Tanyanyiwa, Tapiwa Mari and Dorothy Pasipanodya travelled to Washington D.C, U.S.A on the 13th of March 2011. After spending 3 days touring the historic American capital of Washington D.C they went to Baltimore, Maryland where the competition was to be held. The competition started on the 17th of March at the University of Maryland School of Law through to the 20th of March.
The topic in the competition was Oil Pollution in the Marine environment and the facts of the case were briefly as follows; Repelmuto and Albacares were two fictional states suing each other at the International Court of Justice over an oil spill incident similar to that of the BP incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Albacares claimed that Repelmuto had violated international law by deregulating the oil industry leading to the oil spill and by the subsequent release of a harmful chemical dispersant to combat the effects of the oil spill. Albacares further sought compensation as a result of these allegations. On the other hand, Repelmuto denied violating international law and vehemently asserted that it was not liable for compensation but blamed instead the company which had been conducting oil drilling activities in the Gulf of Sedna that both countries shared.
The competition was comprised of 15 Universities from all over the world with most universities fielding two teams and the University of Zimbabwe was the only team from Africa. The University of Zimbabwe was very formidable when it met quarterfinalists, National University of Advanced Legal Studies from India, semi-finalists, Hugh Wooding Law School from Trinidad and Tobago, a team from the Law Society of Ireland and finalists, University of Hawaii from the U.S.A.
The finals were between the University of Hawaii and another team from the Law Society of Ireland. The latter won the competition. However the team from the University of Zimbabwe did not go unrecognised. The competition organiser Professor William Piermattei announced that the University of Zimbabwe had won the Spirit of Stetson Award for professionalism and civility. All the teams which had competed against the team from the University of Zimbabwe had ranked it as the most formidable, professional and civil, in and out of the competition’s courtroom scenarios. Another reason the team was awarded the award was because of the incredible story of how they had come to take part in the competition which is told in a documentary made by a student, Patrick McDonough. The documentary can be found at http://www.law.umaryland.edu/programs/environment/events/stetson.
The competition gave young law students an opportunity to learn about international environmental law and how to argue at an international level. It also presented the world with the opportunity to see the best that Zimbabwe has to offer and the great potential that this generation of young Zimbabweans has. It is such initiatives that the Forum will continue to champion and approach other organisations to partner it in promoting them. In light of this great achievement the youngsters would like to thank Delta Corporation, Dube, Manikai & Hwacha Legal Practitioners, the community of Masvingo, the Law Development Commission, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, United Nationas Development Program, Mr. J. Kadzura, Mr. M. Tshuma, Advocate C. Damiso, Advocate T. Mpofu, Mr. D.Guzha, Mr. B. Chimhini, Mr. D. Hill, Professor L. Madhuku, Miss. R. Brown and all the people who gave their advice and support.
This is an inspirational story and the Forum will work to ensure that more wonderful stories can be told.