Maravi

Buzaianu demands apology from Zambian govt

Buzaianu demands apology from Zambian govt
By Chibaula Silwamba
Thu 20 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT

SWITZERLAND-BASED businessman Nichola Bogdan Buzaianu is demanding an apology from the Zambian government over the gold scam allegations, highly-placed sources have revealed. According to sources close to the probe of the gold scam investigations, Buzaianu's team of lawyers arrived in Lusaka around midday on Tuesday aboard a private jet.

"Dr Buzaianu's lawyers are in the country. They are demanding for an apology from GRZ government of the Republic of Zambia over the gold scam allegations and claims that Dr Buzaianu is a fugitive," the sources revealed.

President Michael Sata last week revealed that Buzaianu, whom he said was linked to the gold sale, had come to Zambia that week and met former president Rupiah Banda, his son James and press aide Dickson Jere.

President Sata castigated the police and instantly fired Lusaka Division commanding officer Mulakeni Zulu for failing to apprehend Buzaianu and his crew who he said had been wanted by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

Banda confirmed meeting Buzaianu but said he was not a fugitive and that there was no gold that went missing as portrayed.

Banda said he welcomed the DEC's investigations of the sale of gold linked to Buzaianu.

Other sources yesterday revealed that the gold was sold last July.
"The advertisement for the sale of gold was done through Zambia's missions abroad and the London Metal Exchange. The gold was 100 kilogrammes and was sold for K19 billion in July 2011 using the London Metal Exchange market price at the time," the sources said.

"The Ministry of Mines, the Attorney General and the Secretary to the Treasury were very much involved in this transaction. In fact, the Attorney General's chambers prepared the agreement for the transaction with the buyer. There were about four bidders."

The source said the money from the sale of gold was given to the government.
"The money started arriving in Control 99 government account at Bank of Zambia around July, August and September 2011," the sources said.

"The commissioner of DEC then asked the minister of finance to give the money to the DEC so that it could clear its debts and pay outstanding allowances for its employees but the minister refused, saying the money was too much and he demanded for a budget from the DEC. The minister said based on the budget, the ministry will release the money to the DEC. The DEC prepared the budget and submitted to the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Finance released the money to the DEC to buy vehicles and pay the outstanding allowances to its employees and pay for outstanding rentals. However, we don't know what the remaining amount was used for. So we just hope the President Sata was not misled on this transaction."

Labels: CORRUPTION, DEC, GOLD

posted by MrK @ 2:56 PM