Published: 4 hours ago

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) is facing fresh scrutiny over alleged mishandling of this year's public examinations, with critics questioning the competence and accountability of the board's officials.

The criticism follows reports of logistical breakdowns and possible deeper governance failures in the management of both Ordinary and Advanced Level examination materials. Opposition Lead Party president Linda Masarira urged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to stop shielding Zimsec and act decisively to protect the integrity of Zimbabwe's education system.

"The ongoing crisis, marked by open exam envelopes, mislabelled packages, paper shortages, and widespread leaks, has deeply compromised the credibility of the 2025 examinations," Masarira said. She criticised the repeated targeting of low-level staff for arrests while the structural issues and alleged masterminds within Zimsec remain unaddressed, calling for an independent public inquiry into the board's operations.

Masarira recommended a full review of Zimsec's procurement processes, logistics, printing and packaging systems, as well as the alleged intimidation of educators. She called for both personal and institutional accountability, stressing the importance of restoring public confidence.

Insiders at several examination centres described the handling of the papers as "shambolic," raising concerns about security, administrative capacity, and the integrity of the assessment process. Masarira proposed institutional reforms, including staff vetting, continuous performance evaluation, and the implementation of secure digital tracking systems such as encrypted packaging codes and blockchain-based mechanisms. She also suggested the formation of a multi-stakeholder oversight board involving teachers' unions, parent associations, and student representatives to monitor Zimsec operations and report to Parliament.

The call for reform echoes sentiments from the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), with secretary-general Goodwill Taderera urging Zimsec to adopt clear policies and punitive measures to curb examination leaks. "All that is needed is to be ethical, to have the standard operating guidelines, and ensure operatives follow them," Taderera said. He noted that current laws stipulate a nine-year jail term for anyone found leaking examinations, which should serve as a deterrent.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) highlighted shoddy sealing of exam papers at provincial centres, which could tempt unauthorized access. PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou also raised concerns over mismanaged paper distribution and delayed payments to resident monitors for the 2024 cycle.

Zimsec, however, has dismissed the allegations of irregularities, assuring the public that the 2025 examinations are being conducted securely and professionally. Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro described reports of leaks and incompetence as "sensationalist and unsubstantiated," accusing critics of attempting to undermine public confidence without providing verifiable evidence.

"The Zimsec examinations are proceeding with the highest degree of integrity, security and professionalism," Ndoro said, adding that the ministry would not be swayed by anonymous claims or social media speculation.
- Newsday

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