Online ReporterDanisa Masuku
TWO adults, who thought they could outsmart the education system got a rude awakening after being busted trying to write Ordinary Level examinations for other “not so bright”candidates in Bulawayo and Buhera.
Police confirmed the arrest of Mavis Phiri (32) and Brighton Chinhenga (26) in two separate cases of exam impersonation that left teachers, pupils and parents shaking their heads in disbelief.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on X, Chinhenga was nabbed at Mukondomi Secondary School in Buhera, on 13 October 2025. The daring “exam saviour” was caught attempting to sit for Mathematics Paper One on behalf of another candidate.
His act came crashing down when vigilant invigilators noticed he looked nothing like the photo on the candidate’s ID. The suspicious teachers quietly tipped off the authorities, leading to his immediate arrest before he could even sharpen his pencil.
“The suspect was apprehended while attempting to sit for the Mathematics Paper One examination on behalf of another candidate,” ZRP confirmed on its official X page. Investigations are ongoing to establish how he obtained the candidate’s documents and whether he was part of a wider cheating network.
Before the ink could dry on Chinhenga’s charge sheet, another academic fraud was playing out hundreds of kilometres away in Bulawayo.
On 14 October 2025, Mavis Phiri from Magwegwe North tried to pull off a similar trick at Masotsha High School. She was caught attempting to write Science Paper One for her sister, described by neighbours as “not exactly a bright light” in the classroom.
Phiri’s luck ran out when exam officials noticed her maturity and mismatched facial features. Her attempt to bluff her way through the science paper backfired when invigilators called in the police, leading to yet another embarrassing arrest.
Both suspects are now facing charges of personation, a serious offence under the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) regulations and national law.
Police warned the public against trying to cheat the system. “We urge candidates to be honest and avoid engaging in criminal activities during public examinations. Those caught will face the full wrath of the law,” said the police on X.
