THE Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) has warned Zambians that using fake or unverified academic qualifications to get jobs or enroll in colleges could cost them opportunities, as verification of all qualifications is now mandatory.
Speaking at the End-of-Year Media Breakfast, ZAQA Director-General Mercy Ngoma said the authority had verified more than 59,000 qualifications this year alone, including both local and foreign certificates.
She explained that the verification process ensures that only genuine qualifications are recognised, protecting citizens from losing jobs or study chances.
Ngoma revealed that nearly 2,000 qualifications were rejected after checks showed they were either from unaccredited institutions, linked to programmes that were not officially approved, or outright fraudulent.
She said this underscores the growing need for citizens to confirm the authenticity of their qualifications before applying for employment or higher education.
“Qualification verification is now mandatory for anyone seeking a job or admission to a tertiary institution,” Ngoma said.
“We encourage everyone to verify their papers early to avoid delays or missing out on opportunities.”
The Director-General also said ZAQA had registered 872 qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), including 298 new ones this year.
Registration ensures that programmes meet quality standards and are recognised both nationally and internationally.
However, she warned that many qualifications currently offered in the country are still not registered, which could limit their recognition beyond Zambia’s borders.
Ngoma advised learners to always check that the programmes they plan to pursue are registered on the NQF.
On delays in verification, Ngoma explained that the process can take time due to the growing number of applications, incomplete documents, slow confirmations from foreign or closed institutions and careful fraud checks.
She, however, assured the public that ZAQA is improving its systems, increasing staff and developing a new digital platform to make verification faster and more efficient.
By George Musonda
Kalemba December 23, 2025
