Police in Kalabo district in Western Province have arrested four candidates for being in possession of leaked General Certificate Examination (GCE) paper.
Kalabo Police Officer-in-Charge Daniel Mutondo told ZANIS that the four suspects include one male and three females.
Mr Mutondo added that the incident occurred on Wednesday morning when a team of officers from the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ) executed an impromptu visit to Nalionwa Day Secondary School examination center during a Mathematics paper 2 session.
He said the suspects were found in unlawful possession of handwritten pieces of paper that contained pre-written answers which corresponded exactly with the Mathematics questions in the examination paper
He identified the suspects as Andrew Sipatunyana 23, Nosiku Sipatunyana 22, Nalishebo Manenga 23 and Likumbi Kaumba 18.
Mr Mutondo stated that examination malpractice is a serious offence whose repercussions could adversely affect ones’ career prospects if convicted.
He said that the offense attracts imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years upon conviction.
He noted that candidates have had ample time to study and prepare for examinations and therefore must not be tempted to cross the law by engaging in malpractice.
Mr Mutondo disclosed that police have since opened a docket and launched investigations into the matter to establish the source of the examination leakage.
He added that the suspects would appear in court soon.
Kalabo District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Moola Moola was saddened by the development, adding that it was unfortunate that pupils could be involved in such acts.
The Examinations Council of Zambia Act chapter 137 section 19(1) of the Laws of Zambia states that “Any person who, without lawful excuse, has in his possession or under his control any examination paper or any part thereof, or any information relating to the contents of any examination paper, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty five thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both.”
ZANIS
