Former Education PS Henry Tukombe arrested over US$401 million contract

Former Ministry of Education permanent secretary Henry Tukombe has been arrested in connection with a contract valued at US$401 million — a figure that would place the case among the largest corruption prosecutions in Zambia's history.

The arrest, confirmed this week, relates to procurement undertaken while Tukombe held office as controlling officer at one of the biggest-spending ministries in government. Details of the specific charges are expected to be set out when he appears in court.

As permanent secretary, Tukombe was the ministry's chief accounting officer, with authority over contracts spanning infrastructure, materials and services during a period when the free education programme dramatically expanded the ministry's budget and procurement volume.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has in recent years pursued a series of cases involving former senior officials; convictions have been mixed, and civil society watchdogs will be watching whether a case of this size is prosecuted to conclusion. Tukombe is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and no court has yet heard the evidence.