Nqobizwe Thebe
The 2025 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations have triggered widespread concern after a series of irregularities that many say undermined the integrity of the national assessment system.
The Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) issued a strongly worded statement criticising ZIMSEC’s conduct, describing the situation as a national betrayal of learners who depend on fair and credible examinations for their future.
Reports from schools across the country highlighted a range of problems, including exam envelopes arriving already opened, examination packages mislabelled, shortages of papers that forced teachers to make photocopies, and allegations that some administrators were intimidated when they raised procedural concerns. These incidents, according to LEAD, point to fundamental weaknesses in the management of the examination process.
In a statement, LEAD president Linda Tsungirirai Masarira condemned what she described as “gross incompetence, unprofessional conduct, and reckless disregard for the sanctity of our national examinations.” She argued that the 2025 issues do not stand alone but fit into a longer pattern of problems that have persisted since ZIMSEC assumed full control of the examinations framework in 1998. Masarira said, “The 2025 examination chaos is not an isolated event but part of a pattern of systemic negligence that has plagued the institution since localisation in 1998,” calling for accountability to be “non-negotiable.” She demanded an immediate independent public inquiry into every aspect of ZIMSEC’s operations, arguing that confidence in the institution has eroded to dangerous levels.
The criticism extended to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which LEAD accused of shielding ZIMSEC from scrutiny while failing to address deeper structural issues. The organisation said the current crisis reflects long-standing systemic failures that cannot be solved through temporary fixes, urging decisive government intervention to restore public trust.
These concerns follow years of recurring exam scandals in Zimbabwe. In 2012, some examinations were withdrawn due to confirmed leaks. Subsequent years saw repeated incidents involving leaked papers, with some traced to printing presses and others involving educators. In 2017, leaks affected English, science, and mathematics examinations, fuelling public distrust and a renewed push for reform. Analysts and education stakeholders have long warned that corruption, weak oversight, and operational loopholes form part of what some describe as an “examination mafiarisation.” The problems extend beyond ZIMSEC to include pressure on learners, leakage networks, and in some cases involvement of school personnel.
The 2025 crisis followed the same pattern. Some schools reported receiving duplicate consignments of exam papers, while others received fewer than required. Teachers in several centres were compelled to make photocopies to ensure all candidates could sit the examinations. There were also reports of intimidation targeting school heads and teachers who tried to formally report irregularities, raising concerns about transparency in the system and the safety of whistleblowers.
In response, LEAD proposed a range of reforms aimed at rebuilding confidence in the examination process. These include independent public audits, professionalisation of examinations management, enhanced information security systems such as blockchain tracking for exam materials, reversing some logistical decisions such as ZIMSEC’s handling of science practical materials, strengthening whistleblower protections, and establishing an independent oversight board with representation from multiple sectors.
ZIMSEC has routinely denied responsibility for exam leaks and has argued that some breaches occur outside its offices. However, the frequency and scale of the problems have left parents, teachers, and the wider public demanding a complete overhaul of the system. Education experts warn that the credibility of national examinations underpins career pathways, tertiary admissions, and national development ambitions, making consistent failures a serious threat to Zimbabwe’s future.
Masarira captured this sentiment in her statement: “Education is the heartbeat of national development. When examination integrity collapses, the future of our children, our workforce, and our nation collapses with it.” The government now faces mounting pressure to act decisively to restore credibility, protect learners, and rebuild a transparent, merit-driven examination framework that Zimbabweans can trust.
