Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education has begun public hearings on the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations (ZIMSEC) Amendment Bill, with the committee kicking off its programme in Lupane today.
They will be at a Bulawayo hotel tomorrow.
“The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education will be holding public hearings on the ZIMSEC Amendment Bill (H.B.4, 2025) from 25 to 29 August 2025,” reads the statement from Parliament.
The principal law enacted in 1994 has become outdated and is failing to address current demands of accountability, governance, and challenges in public examinations management brought about by technological changes. The Bill was tabled in the National Assembly last month and seeks to amend the original law to enhance security in the management of the country’s public examinations, which have been blighted by incidents of leakages and other malpractices in the past.
The country’s largest teachers’ representative body, the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA), has hailed the decision to amend the law.
“The ZIMSEC Amendment Bill is both necessary and overdue. The principal Act of 1994 has become increasingly misaligned with the contemporary demands of assessment credibility, governance accountability, and international benchmarking,” said ZIMTA chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu in his presentation to Parliament.
He said while the Bill proposes commendable reforms, some areas require refinement, further strengthening, and structural realignment to close systemic loopholes and improve functional resilience.
Dr Ndlovu commended the expansion of the definition of what is considered examination practice in Clause 2 of the Bill to cover modern forms of academic dishonesty, which include the use of smart gadgets, script tampering, and centre-level collusion.
“These are overdue reforms, reflective of both digital and organised syndicate-based malpractices seen in recent ZIMSEC leakages,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Ends
derick.khumalo