ZAQA Introduces Digital System to Fight Qualification Fraud

The Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) is strengthening its fight against fraudulent qualifications through a new digital system aimed at improving the registration and verification of academic and professional qualifications in the country. The system, known as the Qualifications Management Information System (QMIS), is expected to make qualifications management more secure, efficient and accessible.

Speaking during a capacity-building workshop for awarding bodies in October 2026, ZAQA Director General Mrs Mercy Mwiinga Ngoma said the system would provide a centralised platform for registering qualifications under the National Qualifications Framework. In a speech delivered on her behalf by Director of Qualifications Services, Mr Fidelis Cheelo, she explained that QMIS would also improve the management of learner achievement records and help employers, learning institutions and the public access reliable information when verifying qualifications.

Mrs Ngoma emphasised that the success of the system would depend on the active participation of awarding bodies and other stakeholders. The workshop is aimed at familiarising participants with the platform, clarifying registration requirements and collecting feedback to improve its effectiveness. ZAQA says the initiative forms part of broader efforts to protect the credibility of Zambia’s education system, strengthen quality assurance and improve public service delivery through digital technology.