ACC arrests former PS in the Ministry of Higher Education

The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested former permanent secretary at the Ministry Of Higher Education Owen Mugemezulu for corrupt practices involving over $33million.

Mr. Mugemezulu, 52, of Lusaka has been arrested and charged with one count of willful failure to comply with applicable law and procedure relating to procurement contrary to section 34 (2) (b) of the anti-corruption act no. 3 of 2012.

The arrest is in connection with a contract he is alleged to have signed in 2017 with a construction company called china energy engineering group–human power design institute co. ltd worth two hundred and twenty five million united states dollars (us$225,000,000.00) for the design and build of the FTJ Chiluba University in Mansa and Kasama under the Ministry of Higher Education.

ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe says investigations have established that pursuant to the contract, an advance payment amounting us$ 33,750,000.00 was paid to the contractor between February 2018 and June 2018 for works to commence.

Ms. Chibwe says to date, the works performed on the two sites by the contractor are not commensurate with the amount paid in advanced to the contractor and the project has since stalled.

She has explained that it has been established that Mr. Mugemezulu signed the contract without following tender procedures and without subjecting the said contract To Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) for approval.

Ms. Chibwe says Mr. Mugemezulu has since been detained in police custody and is expected to appear before court on Friday 29th April 2022.