• In 2018, Yamba did not follow procedure when he authorized an advance payment of US$33, 750,000.00.
• The said money was paid to the contractor but to date no university has been constructed.
• In the same matter, the ACC has also arrested Joseph Phiri, an architect at the Ministry of Higher Education.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested former Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba for corrupt practices involving over US$33 million.
In a statement, Commission Corporate Affairs Officer Timothy Moono revealed that Mr. Yamba 62 has been arrested and charged with one count of willful failure to comply with applicable procedure relating to procurement.
“In 2018, Yamba did not follow procedure when he authorized an advance payment of US$33, 750,000.00 to China Energy Engineering Group – Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd for the construction of FTJ Chiluba University in Mansa and Kasama under the Ministry of Higher Education. The said money was paid to the contractor but to date no university has been constructed,” Mr. Moono disclosed.
He further revealed that in the same matter, Joseph Phiri, an Architect at Ministry of Higher Education has been arrested for attempting to fraudulently facilitate a payment amounting to US$ 29,186,169.09 to the same Chinese firm.
Mr. Moono said Mr. Phiri, 57 of Lusaka has been arrested and charged with one count of fraudulent facilitation of payment contrary to section 34 (2) (a) as read together with section 40(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 of 2012.
“Phiri, being an Architect at the Ministry of General Education and Project Manager for the construction of FTJ Chiluba University in Mansa and Kasama, in 2018, did attempt to fraudulently facilitate a payment to China Energy Engineering Group–Hunan Electric Power Design Institute Co. Ltd by signing and issuing an Interim Payment Certificate No. 2 valued at US$ 29,186,169.09 with an inflated sum of US$7,578,772.41 for goods purportedly supplied when in fact not,” he revealed.
He added that the Commission is also pursuing a Quantity Surveyor at Ministry of Higher Education identified as Joseph Ngulube in relation to the same matter.
Mr. Moono stated that Joseph Phiri has since appeared in Court and has been granted bail while Mr. Yamba is expected to appear in court soon.