HEXCO Aligns Zimbabwe Qualifications Framework with African Continental Standards

Deputy Minister Simelisizwe Sibanda

Harare, Zimbabwe – February 22, 2026 – The Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) has officially referenced its National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF), a move set to harmonise Zimbabwe’s education and training standards with regional and continental benchmarks.

The milestone positions Zimbabwe within a growing network of African countries working toward a unified qualifications system that promotes mobility, comparability, and mutual recognition of credentials. The ACQF initiative supports cooperation among African Union member states to build a trusted continental space for qualifications, benefitting learners, institutions, and employers.

Speaking at a strategic convention held in Harare this week, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, Simelisizwe Sibanda, described the referencing process as substantive and transformative.

“We have referenced our national qualifications framework to the ACQF. This is not a ceremonial exercise. HEXCO must now lead the harmonisation of assessment standards, credit systems and qualification benchmarks with our SADC partners,” Sibanda said.

The referencing aligns Zimbabwe’s NQF with continental norms, strengthening comparability with countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Education experts say this is crucial for labour mobility and skills portability, particularly as cross-border trade and regional industrialisation gain momentum under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Dr. Rumbidzai Mavhunga, a higher education policy analyst based in Harare, told Southerton Business Times that referencing enhances trust in Zimbabwe’s qualifications. “When frameworks are aligned to continental standards, it increases transparency in level descriptors, credit accumulation, and quality assurance systems. That makes qualifications easier to compare and recognise,” she explained.

A key focus of the convention was ensuring HEXCO’s strategic objectives align with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises innovation, skills development, and industrial growth. Officials noted that strengthening assessment credibility and qualification recognition directly supports economic transformation goals.

Deputy Minister Sibanda underscored the reputational implications of the reform.

“When a Zambian training authority seeks HEXCO support, it is our credibility that travels across the border. Let us ensure it arrives intact,” he said.

As part of broader reforms, HEXCO is collaborating with the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) and the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC). The partnership aims to harmonise standards across general, higher, and vocational education sectors to ensure coherence and continental recognition.

Participants at the convention welcomed the move, with one vocational training college principal describing it as “a gateway to continental competitiveness for Zimbabwean graduates.” With the ACQF referencing now complete, attention shifts to implementation, ensuring alignment of curricula, assessment methodologies, and credit systems. If effectively executed, analysts say the reform could significantly enhance Zimbabwe’s education brand and unlock new opportunities for learners and skilled professionals across Africa.

HEXCO ACQF Zimbabwe qualifications framework