By Staff Reporter
Harare — The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC), demanding the immediate payment of outstanding allowances owed to teachers serving as national examination examiners.
In a formal letter addressed to the ZIMSEC chairperson, ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure said the continued non-payment of examiners amounts to a breach of trust and has become a recurring problem that threatens the integrity of Zimbabwe’s national examination system.
The union represents teachers currently involved in the marking of public examinations.
ARTUZ argues that delayed remuneration has created severe financial hardship for examiners, particularly in the context of Zimbabwe’s volatile economic environment.
According to the union, ZIMSEC has frequently disbursed allowances in staggered or batch payments, a practice ARTUZ says significantly erodes the real value of earnings due to inflation and currency instability.
The union raised particular concern over the situation of non-resident examiners who must travel long distances and secure accommodation during the marking period.
ARTUZ claims that delays in paying travel and subsistence allowances force these examiners to cover operational costs out of pocket, effectively subsidising the examination body.
“This is not merely a labour dispute but a systemic governance issue that undermines confidence in the examinations process,” the union said, warning that experienced educators may increasingly withdraw from participating in marking exercises if the situation persists.
ARTUZ has called on ZIMSEC to process and confirm full payment of all outstanding allowances within 24 hours.
Failure to comply, the union warned, would result in legal action and a nationwide call for teachers to withdraw future cooperation with the examination authority.
The union also urged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to intervene, arguing that ZIMSEC’s funding model requires urgent reform to prevent recurring cash-flow challenges that affect examiners’ welfare.
ZIMSEC had not responded publicly to the allegations at the time of publication.
The council has previously acknowledged financial and operational pressures linked to examination administration but has maintained that it remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to stakeholders.
ZIMSEC administers national examinations for hundreds of thousands of candidates annually, making the timely and credible processing of results central to Zimbabwe’s education system.
Observers note that prolonged disputes with examiners risk undermining both the quality of marking and public confidence in examination outcomes.
