ZIMSEC needs to do better. Students’ academic and career opportunities are being affected by these unnecessary delays.

• By Staff Reporter
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• 443
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• September 14, 2026

 want to share my experience with ZIMSEC because I strongly believe this is an issue that needs to be addressed, especially for Zimbabwean students applying to schools outside the country. 

I applied to a university here in the United States, and the admissions office required ZIMSEC to send official verification of my O’Level and A’Level results directly to the school.

I went through the ZIMSEC website and paid $160 for the verification service. Because I am currently in the U.S., I had to send my mother to the ZIMSEC offices in Mutare to make the payment on my behalf. We were told that the verification would be sent within 5–10 days. Ten days passed. Nothing. We called ZIMSEC to follow up and were told that the person responsible for signing off on the verification had traveled and that they could not tell us when that person would return. Weeks went by.

We continued calling and were repeatedly transferred from one office to another. On some occasions, we were left on hold for more than 15 minutes.

After 47 DAYS, ZIMSEC finally confirmed that the verification had been sent. But by then, it was too late. The fall semester had already started, and I lost my opportunity to start school this year. I now have to wait until the next intake in 2027.

I honestly find this level of delay and lack of communication extremely disappointing and unacceptable, especially considering the $160 fee that was paid for this service.

I know I am not the only student going through this process. There are several other students experiencing similar delays. I believe that if this issue is brought to the attention of the right people and more people speak up about it, something can be done to improve the process.

ZIMSEC needs to do better. Students’ academic and career opportunities are being affected by these unnecessary delays.

I hope you will be able to help me with this matter.

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