THE Senate has moved to tighten Zimbabwe’s examination system after years of controversy over leaked examination papers, weak oversight and growing concern over the credibility of national assessments.
Recently, the Senate debated the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Amendment Bill [HB 4A, 2025], a proposed law that seeks to overhaul the operations of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) for the first time since the principal Act was enacted in 1994.
Presenting the Bill before the Senate, Primary and Secondary Education minister Torerayi Moyo said the education sector had undergone major socio-economic and technological changes over the past three decades, making reforms unavoidable.
“The amendments have to be made so that it is aligned with the principal Act, thereby making it more relevant and applicable to the present-day dictates,” Moyo told senators.
At the centre of the proposed reforms is an attempt to restore public confidence in Zimsec following repeated examination leak scandals that have shaken the country’s education system in recent years.
The Bill proposes tougher penalties for examination malpractice, including custodial sentences for individuals implicated in leaking examination papers. It also seeks to empower Zimsec to deregister examination centres that fail to comply with operational standards.
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Moyo said the reforms were partly informed by the 2022 Ordinary Level examination leaks, which compromised the integrity of national examinations and triggered public outrage.
“We are proposing that custodial sentences be imposed on individuals involved in the leakage of examination papers,” he said.
The proposed amendments would also restructure the Zimsec board by introducing experts in finance, audit, human resources, information technology and risk management in a bid to strengthen governance and improve efficiency within the examination body.
Another major change involves aligning Zimsec’s financial year with the government calendar by shifting the fiscal year end from June 30 to December 31.
During debate, senators from across the political divide broadly supported the Bill, saying it was long overdue.
Senator Kudakwashe Matibiri said malpractices within the examination system had affected the quality and credibility of Zimbabwe’s education standards.
“When such happens, it compromises not only the output but ultimately, the quality of the workforce that comes before us,” Matibiri said.
Senator Angeline Tongogara welcomed the proposed crackdown on examination leaks, saying parents suffer financial losses when examinations have to be rewritten due to irregularities.
“You find that when children were about to write exams, there were leaks and then children would not write exams,” she said.
Tongogara, however, sought clarification over whether the proposed changes meant June examinations would be abolished, prompting the minister to explain that the amendment only concerned Zimsec’s financial
year and not examination schedules.
Concerns over ministerial powers and oversight mechanisms were also raised during the debate.
Senator Sengezo Tshabangu questioned whether the minister will have powers to shut down examination centres without approval from the Zimsec board and demanded clarity on consultative process.
Responding, Moyo said the authority to close centres involved in malpractices rested with Zimsec, although affected institutions retained the right of appeal.
The debate opened broader conversations around inclusion and gender representation within the examination system.
Senator Kucaca Phulu urged the ministry to ensure gender balance within the Zimsec board and warned that examination systems themselves can unintentionally disadvantage girls if not properly designed.
“It is possible to design an examination system that inadvertently favours boys, making it more challenging for girls to succeed,” Phulu said.
Moyo, however, argued that recent statistics showed that girls are outperforming boys in several national examinations, particularly at Grade Seven level.
Meanwhile, Senator Tsitsi Zhou praised the Bill for promoting inclusivity, particularly the inclusion of persons with disabilities within the Zimsec board structure.
The Bill has since passed second reading stage in the Senate and proceeded to Committee Stage on Wednesday, where lawmakers are expected to scrutinise individual clauses and possibly propose amendments before its final adoption.