Buzaianu distances himself from the purchase of Gold by Gloria Koko

December 29, 2011 § Leave a comment

Nicolae Buzaianu

Nicolae Buzaianu

Nicolae Buzaianu, the Swiss businessman President Michael Sata wrongly linked to the “mysterious disappearance” of about 118kgs of gold with a present day value of more than K32 billion may have distanced himself from Zambia and its gold scandal but has recently been awarded a gold medal by the Church of Russia for his charity work in Eastern Europe.

What is now being called the “gold-gate” scandal has turned into an embarrassing event for President Sata. Like they say in Hollywood movies he came out “guns-a-blazing” and blamed all the wrong doings on the Swiss based philanthropist when in fact President Sata did not know whether the gold was sold to Dr. Buzaianu or even if a crime was committed.

Originally the Swiss national has hired Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota to defend him in the scandal that involved former President Rupiah Banda, his son James and a former press assistant, Dickson Jere. Dr. Buzaianu has withdrawn all legal actions against the Zambian administration since an official apology has been released on his behalf. 

In a brief explanation Buzaianu, 42, philanthropist, confirmed in correspondence obtained from his lawyer that the gold was bought not by himself, but by two South African companies he named as Societies Financiere du Seujet SA and Valsior SA.  Buzaianu arrived in Lusaka to make Banda aware that he was leaving his UNESCO post to take up other charitable endeavors. 

Buzaianu continually declared that he was not part of “the transaction” that has seen Mr. Jere questioned by a combined team of police, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mr. Buzaianu stated he felt a need to demonstrate that the “transaction was perfectly correct,” and “I did not participate in the transaction and I did not receive any benefits”. He further stated “I arrived on a personal matter which was to chat with President Banda.” Mr. Banda confirmed in a call that Mr. Buzaianu arrived in Lusaka to discuss his exiting his UNESCO post. 

Mr. Buzaianu explained through his lawyer why he “believed” that the transaction was “perfectly correct” he has compelled the two South African companies based in Switzerland to give “full support” to the fact that they, and not him, bought the gold at US$4,066,000. A letter received confirmed Buzaianu’s explanation of not being a buyer of the gold.

No tender procedure was implemented and the buyer was single-sourced. This is by no means is fault of any buyer but fault of DEC and those who run the organization. The gold scandal has brought much embarrassment onto the office of the former President, forcing him to issue a statement on October 16 admitting he had met Buzaianu, but that his meeting was not sinister but about Buzaianu stepping down from his UNESCO post.

President Sata, however, on October 12 expressed disappointment and even anger that persons of suspicious character on a DEC “watch-list” flew into Zambia on a private jet and “saw my predecessor Rupiah Banda.”  Unfortunately President Sata over spoke and only assumed Buzaianu were on the watch list but never was. 

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Zambia Needs Education Not Tourism by Gloria Koko Lusaka Daily News

December 27, 2011 § 2 Comments

David Livingstone staue near Victoria Falls, Z...

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Most recently the media has been focusing on Zambia tourism. Zambia and Zimbabwe are preparing to co-host the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in 2013.

Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga said there was need for the media to aggressively market the vast tourism products in Zambia ahead of the meeting. Amos Malupenga should consider telling the media to focus on education, health and jobs for Zambian.

Amos Malupenga said most people worldwide, including some in Zambian, were not aware of the attractive tourism products found in the country. The permanent secretary spoke in Livingstone after he toured Mukuni Big Five, which houses various animal species including 12 lions, seven cheetahs, seven elephants and four caracals. He said countries such as South Africa and Kenya were investing colossal sums of money in tourism marketing. The two countries, he said, were doing well in the tourism industry.

The government cannot even pay past and present DEC employee wages which was the possible cause of the gold scandal involving Mr. Banda, his son James and wrongly accusing UNESCO representative Nicolae Buzaianu.

“We also need to promote domestic tourism. We need do more to market our tourism products. “More people will come and sample our products. Zambia has unique tourism products which other countries don’t have,” Mr Malupenga said.

Chlorocebus cynosuros English: Victoria Falls,...

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He said his ministry had made a proposal to Cabinet on what should be done to improve infrastructure in Livingstone ahead of the UNWTO general assembly that would be held in Livingstone and Victoria Falls. It would be generous of Mr. Malupenga if he made the people of Zambia aware of his proposition.

“Once Cabinet approves our proposals, you will see a lot of infrastructure and other facilities coming up in Livingstone,” Mr Malupenga said. He commended Chief Mukuni for developing tourism products which would supplement efforts in hosting the general assembly. “Chief Mukuni is doing a lot to add value to Victoria Falls in Livingstone. I had heard of Mukuni Big Five and I am impressed with what I have seen here,” he said.

How ironic that Chief Mukuni owns Mukuni Big Five!

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ZAMBIA WATCH DOG

December 26, 2011 § 3 Comments

Speaking through his spokespersons, Sata has maintained that Musokotwane was paid two salaries when he was minister of Finance.Sata said Musokotwane got K5.5 bilion from the bank of Zambia between 2003 and 2008. He said the money was mostly allowances like Christmas bonuses. He said although the K5.5 billion payments to  Musokotwane was  approved by the previous government it was immoral because it was a lot of money. He said no other Bank of Zambia official or president of Zambia was ever paid that kind of money before.

He said when Musokotwane was appointed minister of Finance; he got two salaries for the period November 2008 to February 2009. From the time he became president, Sata has been making allegations against individuals but most of these allegations have turned out to be false. One example involves Switzerland-based businessman Nicolae Buzaianu over the gold scam story which engulfed the country after Sata alleged that Buzaianu, former president Rupiah Bandaand others stole gold.

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Sata was forced to issue a public apology to Buzaianu when it was established that the allegations were incorrect. On November 16, 2011, Sata said he found Buzaianu’s demands understandable considering the allegations. “Dr. Buzaianu’s demand for an apology and compensation originally appeared groundless and now acceptable for Zambia.  Dr. Buzaianu was at liberty to exhaust all legal avenues available to him since that is the democratic way. Infact, we need Dr. Buzaianu to come to Zambia and continue his UNESCO support.’

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The President of Zambia & The Swiss National – from the Lusaka Daily News

December 26, 2011 § 4 Comments

I have been aggressive in following the gold scandal in Zambia where PRESIDENT Sata originally pointed a wrong finger at Swiss philanthropist Nicolae Buzaianu who held the most esteemed UNESCO post. President Sata outwardly accused Dr. Buzaianu of stealing the gold held by DEC. Early on in the investigation our President stated the Dr. Buzaianu flew into Zambia on a nefarious mission to illegally purchase gold from DEC, the Drug Enforcement Commission. The deep rooted ill action allegedly involved ex-president Banda and possibly his son. 

PRESIDENT Sata

PRESIDENT Sata

For a few weeks Nicolae Buzaianu who is quite generous in his charitable works all over the world especially here in Zambia with a mission of furthering better education to his activities in restoring churches in Eastern Europe. Obviously these works are not the works of a man who would consider illegally purchasing gold or wrong the people of a country he so desired to help. 

The office of the press secretary finally admitted they have had the whole gold scandal incorrect. When Dr. Buzaianu flew into Zambia it was not for the reason of purchasing gold nor was he ever on a DEC watch-list, these allegations were false and incorrect. President Sata’s office and in his own words apologized outwardly to Nicolae Buzaianu for speaking so severely. 

Philanthropist Nicolae Buzaianu

Philanthropist Nicolae Buzaianu

I contacted a representative of Nicolae Buzaianu over the telephone to ask if Dr. Buzaianu would like to comment on President Sata’s actions and how he believes the President will be as a leader of Zambia. The representative offered these words from the Swiss National wrongly accused in the gold scandal. “Nu măsura pe alţii cu palma ta.” Translated it means “Don’t measure others with your own hand.” Finally Dr. Buzaianu wishes the people of Zambia a happy holiday and a wonderful new year. 

I also contacted the press secretary who stated that the President wishes the best of holidays to Dr. Buzaianu and his family and truly hopes he reconsiders his UNESCO post for the people of Zambia. 

Reporting form Lusaka Daily News Sunday 25th December 2011 James Mapalo

 

 

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