Headmaster Creates Fake ZIMSEC O-Level Papers After Stealing Students’ Exam Fees

Zimbabwe Headmaster Arrested for Creating Fake ZIMSEC Exams After Stealing Funds

A headmaster has been accused of stealing exam fees and creating fake ZIMSEC O-Level papers. Tafadzwa Chikohora, 31, allegedly collected exam fees from students, promised them registration for the national O-Level exams, then kept the money and produced counterfeit exams instead.

Alleged Theft of Exam Fees

The headmaster of Ivyluck College, Chikohora, appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi. He faces charges of theft of trust property. According to the prosecution, Chikohora was given $729 in May this year by Ivyluck College, represented by director Lucky Sibanda. This payment was to register three students for the ZIMSEC O-Level exams scheduled for November.

Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi said, “He took the money, but he didn’t register the students as agreed. Instead, he kept it for himself.”

Ivyluck College, offering classes from Form 1 to Form 6, is not a registered ZIMSEC examination centre, so it needed Chikohora to register the students at a certified centre, Ellis Robins High School.

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Fake Exams and Forgery

To cover up the alleged theft, Chikohora is accused of creating counterfeit ZIMSEC examination papers. He reportedly organised a fake exam session for the students, using the Ellis Robins High School laboratory. After the students completed these exams, Chikohora allegedly destroyed the fake papers to erase any evidence.

“The court heard that he destroyed the counterfeit papers to cover up his actions,” stated Chonzi. However, the scheme was discovered when students began discussing the exam content with their classmates. Their descriptions raised suspicions, leading to further investigation.

Evidence Uncovered on Phone

The Herald reports that according to court documents, investigators discovered copies of the fake ZIMSEC papers on Chikohora’s phone. The findings intensified the case against him, and he was remanded in custody until October 25 for a bail hearing.

“The fake exam papers were found on his phone,” Chonzi confirmed. The $729 in exam fees remains unrecovered, adding to the losses faced by Ivyluck College.