SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO
A 42-year-old teacher from Tsungirirai Secondary School in Chief Maranda’s Mwenezi District, Ollowas Chikanyidze, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for violating Section 35 (b) of the ZIMSEC Act, Chapter 25:18 which prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of examination contents.
Chikanyidze was found guilty by Mwenezi magistrate Conceptor Ngwerume for leaking the contents of a ZIMSEC Science Paper 3 to his cousin brother, Tavakudzwa Chikanyidze, who resides in Mberengwa. The sentencing took place yesterday after the court heard that on a date not known by the prosecutor but between 1 and 15 October this year, Chikanyidze used his Samsung Galaxy A3 (serial number R58R223TEQB, IMEI numbers 3539932236600838 and 356475986600835) to share the exam paper via WhatsApp groups.
Prosecutor Shereen Hwengwere told the court that the teacher’s actions compromised the integrity of the examination, as the paper was circulated prior to its official administration. Upon hearing the case, Magistrate Ngwerume handed down a 12-month prison sentence, with two months suspended on condition that Chikanyidze does not commit a similar offense within the next five years.
The remaining 10 months were suspended on the condition that Chikanyidze completes 350 hours of community service at Chengwe Secondary School. Chikanyidze, who showed remorse during the trial, will now face the consequences of his actions while serving the Mwenezi community.
The case highlights the growing challenge of exam leaks in the digital age, particularly through social media platforms like WhatsApp, as education authorities continue to battle threats to the credibility of national examinations.