Massive Zimsec exam paper leaks

Zimbabwe's public examination system has once again come under intense scrutiny amid reports of widespread logistical breakdowns and allegations of deeper governance failures in the handling of this year's Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations.

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examinations, which began on October 13 and run until November 29, have reportedly been marred by confusion, mishandling of papers, and accusations of intimidation and cover-ups at various centres across the country.

Investigations by The Standard across multiple Zimsec centres revealed a pattern of serious irregularities - including question paper envelopes received already open, mixed subjects packed together, duplicate deliveries to main and satellite centres, and even shortages that forced teachers to photocopy exam papers.

At some schools, officials reported that wrongly labelled packages appeared to have been exposed to science chemicals during transit, raising concerns over contamination and safety.

"This is not a mere logistical mistake," said a school administrator in Matabeleland North.
"It puts the integrity of the entire national exam system into question."

Several headmasters and teachers, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a climate of fear around reporting the issues. Some alleged that Zimsec's security staff have interrogated school heads aggressively, discouraging transparency.

"People fear being blamed or punished," a Midlands headmaster said. "Reporting can lead to suspicion and harassment - keeping quiet can lead to temptation. That's how a system collapses."

At Mosi Oa Tunya High School in Victoria Falls, teachers allegedly photocopied an exam paper after receiving an undersupply.

In Nkayi, question papers for English Paper 1 and Paper 2 were found mixed in the same envelope, according to officials familiar with the incident.

"A Zimsec security officer investigating the case ended up accusing the school authorities of mixing up the papers," a source said. "The officer allegedly harassed the head during investigations."

In Mashonaland East and Manicaland, satellite examination centres reportedly received duplicate consignments, resulting in an oversupply of question papers, while in Harare, some papers had to be withdrawn due to incorrect labelling and packing among subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, and Family and Religious Studies (FRS).

The controversy comes as Zimsec has begun supplying not just exam papers but also science chemicals and laboratory equipment - a role previously handled by schools. Teachers and school administrators say the move has stretched Zimsec's logistical capacity and could compromise practical exams.

"Chemicals and equipment arriving broken or leaking could jeopardise practicals," said a science teacher in the Midlands. "We are not sure if Zimsec was authorised by the Education ministry to take over this function."

Efforts to obtain official comment were largely unsuccessful. Primary and Secondary Education ministry communications director Taungana Ndoro referred questions to his deputy Patrick Zumbo, who acknowledged receiving inquiries but had not responded by the time of publication.

Zimsec spokesperson Nicky Dhlamini neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

"Thank you for your submission. May I have names of some schools so as to verify the assertions," she said. "We will investigate these allegations and issue updates where applicable."

Zimsec has long insisted that its automated printing and packaging system, introduced to eliminate human error and leaks, is foolproof. However, this year's reports have cast new doubt on those assurances.

Zimbabwe's exam body has battled credibility issues since 1998, when public examinations were localised to curb widespread leaks under the Cambridge system.

Despite periodic reforms, exam paper leaks have persisted. In 2022, Zimsec cancelled nearly 5,000 results after widespread leaks. In 2023, a teacher in Matabeleland South was arrested for circulating English and Mathematics papers, while in 2024, police confirmed that WhatsApp groups were selling November exam papers in advance.

Earlier this year, Tadiwanashe Frank Chiminya (23), a polytechnic student, was arrested for creating a WhatsApp group with more than 900 members and selling alleged leaked papers for the June 2025 session.

Education stakeholders have called for a full public audit of Zimsec's handling of the 2025 exams, warning that the credibility of results is at stake.

"Any sign of exposure - even incidental - risks the credibility of results," said a retired school inspector. "This is not just about logistics; it's about the integrity of Zimbabwe's education system."

Despite official reassurances and arrests of low-level offenders, critics argue that the real masterminds within Zimsec have never been held accountable - leaving a cloud of mistrust hanging over the country's public examinations.