8 exam cheats arrested in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has reported that among the eight suspects apprehended for various fraudulent activities, including an attempt to take an exam on behalf of another candidate, is a 52-year-old man.

Zimsec clarified that to date, no candidate has gained early access to the examination papers. The initial arrest was made when a suspect was found circulating a fake scanned copy of a Mathematics paper, leading to the apprehension of a first-year student from Midlands State University (MSU). This student also implicated an Ordinary Level student at Emmanuel Centre of Excellence in Kuwadzana Extension, Harare.

The fraudulent activities came to light when Zimsec alerted the public about fraudsters marketing and selling fake 2023 November examination papers on social media platforms. However, Zimsec emphasized that no November 2023 examination candidates had pre-access to the 2023 question papers.

Zimsec, with the help of security and loss control officers and the police, arrested Cole Mutandwa of Kuwadzana, who was involved in advertising and selling fake Zimsec examination question papers. During questioning, Mutandwa pointed to Paddington Nhedza, an MSU student, as the source of the counterfeit question papers found on his cell phone. Mutandwa has already appeared in court on fraud charges.

Nhedza was brought to Harare and revealed during interviews that he obtained the fake scanned copy of the Mathematics question paper from Alishah Mangisi, an Ordinary Level student at Emmanuel Centre Excellence in Kuwadzana Extension, Harare. Mangisi claimed to have extracted the counterfeit question paper from a WhatsApp group named Slimy Intertainment (a group for models) and forwarded it to Nhedza for assistance. Nhedza has pleaded not guilty in a Harare Magistrates Court and was remanded out of custody.

The accused individuals are facing charges of possession of articles for criminal use, as defined in section 40 of the criminal law (Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23).

Zimsec reported another incident in which George Bukuta, aged 52, was arrested after impersonating a candidate, Shadreck Mutsau, by using a passport that indicated a birthdate of May 5, 1995. Bukuta confessed that he had received US$200 from Shadreck Mutsau to write A-level Family and Religious Studies and History on his behalf.

Additionally, Zimsec revealed that on October 20, Simbarashe Chifura, conducting extra lessons at his residence in Budiriro 1, approached Mr. Edwell Tazvivinga, a teacher at Danbrough College, with a proposal to smuggle a Zimsec examination answer sheet. The answer sheet was intended for use by Monica Mikairi, an external candidate. Mikairi was observed during the exam, sitting without writing anything. Chifura had assigned a motor mechanic, Patrick Zhanje, to retrieve the answer sheet. Police apprehended Zhanje while he was handing over the answer sheet to Chifura, and both were taken into custody.

Zimsec assured that it is implementing strategies and measures to enhance security for question papers during their transit and custody, in preparation for upcoming exams. Investigation teams are actively working to eliminate any remaining unscrupulous elements involved in the fraudulent activities. Zimsec expressed its appreciation for the vigilance and integrity of center administrators and invigilators who work tirelessly to maintain the integrity of the nation's education system.