Ex-Education Permanent Secretary, Procurement Head Arrested Over US$401.8 Million School Supplies Deal

By Maxwell Shumba | BalanceHub

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested and charged former Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Henry Tukombe and former Head of Procurement and Supply Jacob Masatunya over alleged irregularities in a school supplies procurement contract linked to a US$401.84 million government loan obligation.

The arrests mark another significant development in Zambia's ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability and combat corruption in the management of public resources.

What the ACC Is Alleging

According to ACC Head of Corporate Communications Joseph Mwenya, the two former public officials allegedly allowed a procurement process involving Hong Kong-based Mikalile Trading Company Limited to proceed without following mandatory public procurement procedures.

The contract was for the supply of various school items across Zambia and carried a principal value of US$259.25 million. With interest of US$138.7 million and arrangement fees amounting to US$3.89 million, the total government loan obligation reached US$401.84 million.

Alleged Procurement Irregularities

The ACC alleges that between January 2016 and December 2021, the procurement process proceeded without several key legal requirements being met.

According to investigators, there was no formal request from the user department, no bid evaluation process was conducted, and the Ministerial Procurement Committee did not provide the required approval before the procurement moved forward.

The Commission says these alleged failures amounted to violations of Zambia's public procurement procedures.

Charges Filed

Mr. Tukombe and Mr. Masatunya have each been charged with three counts of willful failure to comply with applicable public procurement guidelines.

Following their arrest, both were released on bond and are expected to appear before the courts, where the allegations will be tested through the judicial process.

As with all criminal proceedings, the two are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Why Public Procurement Matters

Public procurement is one of the largest areas of government spending. Procurement laws are designed to ensure transparency, fairness, competition and value for public money.

When procurement procedures are not followed, governments may face higher costs, reduced competition and increased risks of misuse of public resources. Strong procurement systems are therefore considered essential to good governance and public accountability.

The Bigger Picture

The case comes as Zambia continues to strengthen efforts to promote transparency, accountability and prudent management of public funds.

Cases involving large public contracts often attract significant public interest because they concern resources intended to support essential public services such as education. The court proceedings will provide an opportunity for the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defence to be examined through the legal process.

BalanceHub will continue following this case and provide updates as they become available.

Stay informed with BalanceHub for trusted news, in-depth analysis and the stories shaping Zambia. 🇿🇲

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