THE Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested former Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Owen Mugemenzulu for corrupt practices involving over $33 million.

The commission says the arrest is in connection with a contract he is alleged to have signed in 2017 with China Energy Engineering Group–Hunan Power Design Institute Co. Ltd worth US$225,000,000 for the design and build of the FTJ Chiluba University in Mansa and Kasama, under the Ministry of Higher Education.

In a statement, Thursday, ACC spokesperson Queen Chibwe stated that Mugemezulu, 52, had been charged with one count of wilful failure to comply with applicable law and procedure relating to procurement.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education Mr Owen Mugemenzulu for corrupt practices involving over $33million. Mr Mugemezulu, 52, of Lusaka has been arrested and charged with one count of wilful 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–Hunan 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,” she stated.

Chibwe said investigations had established that an advance payment of US$ 33,750,000 was paid for works to commence but to date, the works performed on the two sites were not commensurate with the amount paid in advance to the contractor.

She said it had also been established that Mugemezulu signed the contract without following tender procedures and without subjecting the said contract to Zambia Public Procurement Authority for approval.

“Investigations have established that pursuant to the contract, an advance payment amounting [to] US$ 33,750,000.00 was paid to the contractor between February 2018 and June 2018 for works to commence. To date, the works performed on the two sites by the contractor are not commensurate with the amount paid in advance to the contractor and the project has since stalled. 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. Mr Mugemezulu has since been detained in Police custody and is expected to appear before court on Friday 29th April 2022,” stated Chibwe.