Rupiah explains Buzaianu's visit

Rupiah explains Buzaianu's visit
By Chibaula Silwamba
Mon 17 Oct. 2011, 14:00 CAT

FORMER president Rupiah Banda yesterday confirmed meeting Swiss businessman Nichola Bogdan Buzaianu linked to a sale of gold and welcomed any investigations by the DEC into the matter. And Banda has welcomed investigations into the purchasing or alleged missing of vehicles, saying he was not a procurement officer.

Reacting to President Sata's press briefing where he revealed a scam involving the secret sell of gold confiscated by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) which was allegedly linked to Banda's Swiss-based guest who visited him last week, Office of the Fourth President's administrative secretary, Mikatazo Wakumelo, stated Buzaianu was not a fugitive as alleged.

"Following the numerous allegations made against the former Republican president, Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda, I wish to make clarifications on the following issues: That Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda has a number of friends both in Zambia and outside who have requested to meet him following his gracious exit from the Presidency after the September 20, 2011 elections," Wakumelo stated in a media statement issued yesterday.

"Mr. Banda has granted appointments to a number of visitors who have been coming to see him since he left office. To the best of his knowledge, he has not met anyone who is a fugitive."

He stated that Buzaianu, a Swiss-based businessman, requested to pay him a visit during his planned trip to Zambia. He stated that Dr Buzaianu applied to the Zambian authorities for permission to land at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport two days before his trip to Zambia and the Zambian government granted him landing rights. He stated that Dr Buzaianu arrived on Wednesday October 12, 2011.

"That a request was made to the Zambian authorities to extend the usual courtesies to Dr Buzaianu at the airport which was, in fact, done. He was received by a protocol officer at the airport and taken to the VIP lounge while his immigration formalities were done," Wakumelo stated. "He did the fingerprint biometric procedure at the airport before he proceeded to the customs and exited. He spent about one hour and 30 minutes at the airport while doing his formalities."

He stated that all relevant security wings were at the airport when Dr Buzaianu was doing the usual formalities and at no time did he hide his identity.

Wakumelo further stated that Banda provided vehicles to pick up his visitor at the airport together with the state security attached to his office. He stated that Banda also requested his former press aide, Dickson Jere, to receive his guest on his behalf at the airport because his security did not know him.

Wakumelo stated that after leaving the airport, Dr Buzaianu proceeded to the Taj Pamodzi Hotel where he was booked for an overnight stay and did not hide at all.

"He (Buzaianu) later paid a courtesy call on president Banda that same day. During his stay at the hotel, Dr Buzaianu interacted freely with hotel guests and staff. If Dr Buzaianu was a fugitive as alleged, he would not have been openly moving around," Wakumelo stated.

"The following day, Dr Buzaianu proceeded to Mfuwe to visit the Chipembele Educational Centre, which he has been supporting as a philanthropic cause. Dr Buzaianu proceeded in the normal way at the airport and paid his airport taxes before he left Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for Mfuwe International Airport."

Wakumelo stated that at Mfuwe Airport, Dr Buzaianu was cleared in the standard manner as prescribed by the provisions of the Immigration and Deportation Act before he went to visit the school. Wakumelo stated that Dr Buzaianu flew out the same day with airport permits for his flights from Mfuwe.

"President Banda welcomes the investigations of the sale of gold by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), which has been linked to Dr Buzaianu," Wakumelo stated. "All the relevant people involved in this transaction are available and will provide necessary answers to the investigating team but suffice to say that no gold went missing mysteriously as has been portrayed."

On the purchase of motor vehicles, Wakumelo stated that Banda welcomed the investigations.

"That on the issue of purchasing or alleged missing of vehicles, President Banda also welcomes the investigations into this matter as he was not a procurement officer," Wakumelo stated. "All the people involved in this matter are around and are still serving even under this administration. So they will provide answers as they are better placed to explain where the missing vehicles are, if at all they are missing."

He stated that Banda was available at any given time to answer to any clarification which President Sata might have concerning this matter or any issue before they were made public.

"He Banda remains committed to supporting the current President in order for him to succeed in running the Government. This is the position president Banda took when he made his farewell speech at State House after losing the last elections," stated Wakumelo.

Speaking at a press briefing at State House on Thursday, President Sata claimed to have exposed a scam involving a Swiss businessman who secretly flew into the country and who he said was linked to the purchase of the gold seized by the DEC.

He said a Swiss man called Nicola Bogdan Buzaianu, flew into the country on a private jet last week and is alleged to have met Banda.

"Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) at one time had seized gold and this gold was quietly auctioned and the people who were connected in buying this gold were in Lusaka three days ago. And they came in Lusaka on 12th of October at 09:30 hours at KK International Airport," President Sata said.

"These people when they arrived, they arrived here in a private jet. They went to pay a visit on my predecessor and from there they were met by Mr Dickson Jere and also by Mr James Banda (former president Banda's son) they went to Mfuwe, what for ,I don't know!"