• By Patience Makwele

Whistleblowers within the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Arts and Culture are calling on President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to institute a high-level probe into a series of damning allegations levelled against the ministry’s deputy executive director of finance and administration, Knoxx Otto Imbuwa and several other senior officials. 
The allegations include corruption, nepotism, procurement abuse and mismanagement and the anti-corruption commission (ACC) says it is not the first time Imbuwa’s name flashes on it radar.
Presidential spokesperson, Alfredo Hengari referred queries on the matter to the education ministry.
Meanwhile, in an explosive submission seen by Confidente, a group of internal sources and concerned whistleblowers have accused 
Imbuwa of consolidating power within the ministry’s finance and procurement structures, exploiting his position to advance personal interests, enriching close associates and suppressing accountability. 
The dossier described it as a "dangerously entrenched network of influence" that is allegedly diverting state resources away from the children and schools they were meant to serve.
“This is not just about corruption. It is about the future of thousands of learners whose classrooms, hostels and meals are being held hostage by one man’s greed,” the whistle-blowers wrote.
Imbuwa, joined the ministry around 2015/2016 after serving as director of resettlement at the Ministry of Land Reform and was elevated to his current position following the departure of former executive director Hannu Shipena to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). His tenure has since been allegedly marked by secrecy, fear and allegations of systematic interference in the ministry’s core functions.
The whistle-blowers in the document described Imbuwa’s leadership style as “autocratic, arrogant, disrespectful and intolerant of dissent.”

SPECIFICS
One incident cited in the report alleges that he physically assaulted a former //Kharas director during a procurement-related dispute. Another reveals how he manipulated tender processes by simultaneously appointing members to the bid evaluation committee (BEC) and chairing the procurement committee, an apparent violation of public procurement governance.
Despite a directive by the Ministry of Finance to dissolve overlapping procurement functions across Basic, higher and youth education, Imbuwa allegedly continued to act as the de facto chairperson. According to the report, Imbuwa blocked the awarding of classrooms construction tenders after seven of his preferred bidders allegedly failed to qualify.
“He allegedly questioned the BEC’s decisions, creating further delay,” the whistle-blower report read. 
The document further indicates that Imbuwa failed to comply with two key decisions of the public procurement review panel. In a 09 December 2024 decision, the panel directed a re-evaluation of food tenders involving hostel feeding programs, but Imbuwa allegedly ignored the order. A second decision in March 2025 required the process to be restarted due to flawed procedures. Neither instruction, according to the whistle-blowers, was followed.
“Projects are delayed unless they align with his personal or financial interests, and officials outside his circle are systematically side-lined.” 
Further allegations implicate Imbuwa in possible conflicts of interest as he is said to have terminated legitimate contracts in favour of companies such as the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiads (PAMO), where he allegedly holds undeclared financial interests. 
In one High Court affidavit concerning a supplier dispute, Imbuwa is said to have falsely claimed that learners were starving, claims the whistle-blower say were grossly exaggerated and aimed at pushing through an emergency tender for a preferred company.
“He misled the High Court in an urgent application by falsely claiming that learners were starving, a tactic believed to favour his preferred suppliers,” the report highlighted.

IMBUWA SPEAKS
In his response, Imbuwa denied the allegations by citing they were false and aimed at tarnishing his image. 
“Such allegations are utterly false and purely aimed at just tarnishing my image,” said Imbuwa. 
“Frankly, I must indicate that we have individuals within our very own organizations who by themselves have very questionable characters. They often conduct themselves in ways that are not aligned to our values as the ministry and as public servants,” he added. 
“When some of us who do not tolerate or subscribe to such behaviours dares to apply corrective measures or at best reprimand them, we are seen as standing in their way and clearly by these false allegations, they are trying to paint a picture which does not exist just to deter those of us who are daring.” 
On tender-related allegations, he clarified: “The Public Procurement Act, 2015 is very clear on who has powers to appoint internal procurement structures. The powers vest with the accounting officer and I am not one. These structures are composed of various staff members at management level.”
He added that the recommendations of the procurement committee are collective decisions and not that of an individual, and are subject to the accounting officer’s approval.”
“There are no decisions of the review panel which were ignored or not implemented by the ministry. The truth is that the ministry successfully challenged the said decision of the review panel in the High Court concerning the emergency procurement of supply hostel foodstuff. 
“In fact, we are proud as the ministry that, for the very first time, we have successfully challenged a review ranel ruling in the High Court against these bidders who often seem to have developed a sense of entitlement that they are the only ones who should be awarded tenders and not anyone else.”
Furthermore he explained that the ministry’s procurement records are always published publicly and are readily available for anyone to see how the ministry has administered and managed its procurement matters.
“I am of the view that this particular court ruling in favour of the ministry seems to have angered some of the losing bidders and their cohorts, leaving them with no options but to resort to these false and slanderous allegations against me. This is because I am seen as one of those who firmly stood for the ministry during the court proceedings to defend against their surreptitious intentions.” 
On the claims that projects are only advanced if they align with his personal interests and that officials outside his network are side-lined, Imbuwa concluded:
“I have a proven record of performance in my employment in the public service and I remain very proud of how I have conducted myself and my achievements so far. I have not at any given moment victimised anyone.”

UNDER THE RADAR
The ministry’s executive director Erastus Haitengela indicated that: “As you might be aware that I was appointed executive director of this new ministry towards the end of March 2025.”
“Most of the allegations appearing in the document you shared took place under the old Ministry of Basic Education. It is therefore fair for one first to get the background information on how the procurement process was conducted in the old Ministry of Basic Education,” he explained. 

According to him, Haitengela since his appointment his is fully responsible and in charge of the ministry’s procurement process. 
“It is in my best interest that we follow the procurement procedures as prescribed in the act correctly and fairly when it comes to the appointment of staff members to serve on various procurement committees.
“Therefore I will definitely ensure that our procurement committee members are equipped properly to handle the volumes of work professionally without fear or favour.” 
He added: “Be assured that I will look into these matters further to avoid any possible alleged malpractices going forward under the new ministry.”

IN A NAME
On his part, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa revealed Imbuwa’s name has been under ACC’s scrutiny.

“I have seen a document about Knoxx  [Imbuwa] before but I am not sure if it is similar to what you are enquiring about and I feel it is the ministry’s responsibility to first launch an investigation,” Noa said.
He also urged whistleblowers to come forward and work hand in hand with ACC to allow a fair and balanced investigation.
“For ACC these people who come anonymously at the end of the day, they are kind of trying to touch on the dignity and reputation of others, making it difficult for us to sometimes investigate when we do not have a written statement of the person who is making allegations,” he said.

 
“I urge people to come forward. Give us a statement then we protect your name, so long there’s an affidavit because we don't want people with personal vendetta to hide behind certain assassinations. Let the minister look into that we will not be the first he said.”