Two Arrested For Writing ZIMSEC O Level Exams For Other Candidates

Two People Arrested For Impersonation In ZIMSEC O Level Exams

Two people have been arrested in separate incidents after being caught sitting Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary Level papers on behalf of other candidates. The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrests in a statement released on 15 October 2025.

Arrests In Buhera And Bulawayo

According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the first case occurred on 13 October 2025 at Mukondomi Secondary School in Buhera.

Police said:

“The ZRP confirms the arrest of Brighton Chinhenga (26) for a case of impersonation which occurred at Mukondomi Secondary School in Buhera on 13/10/25. The suspect was apprehended while attempting to sit for the Mathematics Paper 1 examination on behalf of another candidate.”

The following day, on 14 October 2025, a similar incident took place at Masotsha High School in Magwegwe North, Bulawayo.

The police confirmed:

“In a separate incident on 14/10/25, ZRP Magwegwe arrested Mavis Phiri (32) for a similar offence. She was caught attempting to sit for the Science Paper 1 examination on behalf of her sister.”

Past Cases And Sentences

This is not the first time candidates have been caught impersonating others during ZIMSEC examinations. Just last year, in October 2024, two men from Epworth, Paddington Chataika (36) and Joseph Murimba (33), were convicted of the same offence after Murimba wrote the Mathematics Paper 2 on behalf of Chataika.

Court records show that both men were convicted and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, with six months suspended. The remaining six months were converted to 210 hours of community service.

The ZIMSEC Act (Chapter 25:18) prescribes that anyone who impersonates another candidate is guilty of an offence.

According to the law:

“Anyone who sits or offers or attempts to present himself at an examination with the intention of impersonating another person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level seven or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both.”

New Bill Proposes Stiffer Penalties

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Amendment Bill, gazetted in June 2025, seeks to impose stiffer penalties for examination malpractices.

The Bill proposes prison sentences of up to five years for exam cheats. Institutions found guilty of widespread malpractice will face deregistration and be compelled to bear the costs of providing alternative examination centres.

Clause Eight of the proposed law states:

“Any person who forges, alters, offers, utters or disposes of any document purporting to show that a person has obtained a result in an examination held by the Council, knowing the same to be forged or altered, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding Level 14 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both.”

The new Bill is awaiting debate in Parliament.