The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
A 17-year-old Form 4 pupil at Sagambe Secondary School in Honde Valley was recently arrested by the police together with his 20-year-old cousin on allegations of leaking the November 2017 English examination paper. Galen Sithole (20), who pleaded guilty to the charges, was slapped with a six month jail term by Nyanga magistrate, Mrs Gloria Takundwa, for contravening the Zimbabwe Examination Council Act.
The court, however, set aside the sentence on condition that he performs 210 hours of community service. The State led by public prosecutor, Mrs Anesu Tsikwa, however withdrew charges against the 17-year-old , (who cannot be named because of his age) before plea as the police investigating officer had not furnished the court with a probation officer’s report. It was also considered that the teenager was sitting for his ‘O’ Level examinations. The case will proceed later by way of summons.
Mrs Tsikwa told the court that the offence was committed on October 19 after Sithole accessed the English Paper 2 examination paper. The court heard the accused person went on copy the questions and wrote it in an exercise book.
The following day, said Mrs Tsikwa, he woke up early and took the examination material to his nephew, who was doing Form Four at Sagambe Secondary School. Information later reached other pupils at the school who were set to write the same examination that Sithole had some of the questions. The school headmistress Mrs Kuhudzai made some investigations and recovered the book which was now in the hands of another student. The matter was reported to the police.
