THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) is yet to pay vehicle owners who distributed 2024 examination papers to various centres throughout the country.
In October last year, Zimsec contracted private vehicle owners to deliver the examination papers for Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced levels at varying daily rates.
Traditionally, the examination body hired the vehicles through the Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED), but last year it engaged private transporters directly after CMED failed to pay them on time.
Vehicle owners, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the payment delay.
“I hired out my car to Zimsec for 30 days and I was promised payment immediately after rendering the service.
“I incurred a lot of costs during deployment since I had to buy service kits, tyres and food hoping I was going to be paid on time.
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“Right now, it is almost four months and I desperately need the money to pay school fees for my children,” a transporter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
He said when the transporters were hired, Zimsec showed urgency in collecting their details for payment purposes and other relevant papers.
Another vehicle owner accused Zimsec of prioritising its staff while neglecting them.
“I am reliably told that Zimsec monitors, supervisors and markers were paid their US dollar component soon after schools closed in December.
“Why are we not being paid as well? With inflation, the money will have lost value by the time we will be paid. Next time I will not risk my car again,” another transporter said.
The amounts owed, which are in both local currency and US dollars, vary according to distance covered and route.
A Matabeleland North-based vehicle owner said she had been at Zimsec’s Matabeleland North regional offices enquiring to no avail.
Zimsec spokesperson Nicky Dlamini said: “May those who are affected contact Zimsec for clarification of their individual payments.”