The Chronicle
14 January 2013
Grade Seven examination markers and the Government are giving conflicting statements regarding the payment of markers. Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart yesterday said the markers have been paid but the markers are insisting they are yet to be paid.
The marking of the examinations was delayed, as the examination body was waiting for the Ministry of Finance to release the money to pay the markers.
The marking only commenced after Cabinet ordered Zimsec to use its own resources.
In an interview last week, Minister Coltart said the markers had been fully paid by Zimsec.
“In November last year, Cabinet resolved that Zimsec would use money from its reserves to pay the markers, while it waits for Treasury to release the funds and I have not heard anything contrary to that,” said Minister Coltart.
The markers said yesterday that they were yet to be paid despite the fact that they completed the marking in November.
“We finished marking the examinations last year and we were promised that we would be paid soon after completing the work but up to now we have not been paid.
“The Government is taking advantage of us because the results are out and there is no more pressure,” said one of the markers from Emakhandeni.
Another marker from Gweru said Zimsec by not communicating with the markers was being unprofessional.
“This is not fair because we worked  hard and at times late in the night to ensure that the Grade Seven results were out on time. Government should do something about this because it happens every year and it paints a bad picture about Zimsec,” she said.
Efforts to get a comment from Zimsec were fruitless, as the examination body’s director, Mr Esau Nhandara did not respond to questions sent to him.
Over the years markers and the examination body have clashed over delays in paying them their allowances.