Anti-graft agency arrests ex-Education Ministry official, Tukombe, in $401 million scandal

He said the contract committed Government to a total loan obligation of US$401,838,120.

Mwenya stated that the contract had a principal sum of US$259,250,400, with additional interest and arrangement fees.

“The alleged offences are said to have occurred on dates unknown but between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021 in Lusaka District,” he said.

In the first count, Tukombe and Masatunya, being public officers, allegedly wilfully failed to comply with procurement regulations when they allowed the procurement without a request from the User Department.

Mwenya alleged that they wilfully failed to comply with Regulations 111 and 30 of the Public Procurement Regulations of 2011 when they allowed the procurement of various school items from Mikalile Trading Company Limited of Hong Kong under the said contract without a request from the User Department in the Ministry.

In the second count, the duo was alleged to have proceeded with the procurement without subjecting the bid to an evaluation.

Mwenya alleged that they breached Regulation 114 of the Public Procurement Regulations of 2011 when they proceeded with the procurement of various school items from Mikalile Trading Company Limited of Hong Kong without subjecting the bid to an evaluation.

In the third count, they are alleged to have breached the Public Procurement Act by failing to obtain required approvals.

“They further allegedly breached Section 22 of the Public Procurement Act of 2008 when they allowed the procurement without obtaining the required approvals from the Ministerial Procurement Committee,” he said.

The duo has since been released on bond and will appear in court soon.

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