NICOLAE Buzaianu, the Swiss man President Michael Sata linked to the “mysterious disappearance” of about 118kgs of gold with a present day value of more than K32 billion or US$6.6 million has distanced himself from what is slowly turning into an increasingly embarrassing ‘Gold-gate’ scandal.
The Swiss national has hired Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota to defend him in the scandal that has already sucked in former President Rupiah Banda, his son James and a former press assistant at State House, Dickson Jere.
Bozaianu, 42, a self-proclaimed philanthropist, confirmed in correspondence obtained by the Daily Mail from his lawyer yesterday that the gold was bought not by himself, but by some two South African companies he named as Societies Financiere du Seujet SA and Valsior SA.
Despite stating that he is 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. Bozaianu says he feels the need to demonstrate that the “transaction was perfectly correct,” and “I did not participate to the transaction and I did not receive any benefits”.
Mr. Bozaianu does not, however, explain why he “feels” that the transaction was “perfectly correct” but somehow, 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 in a letter obtained by the Daily Mail.
The price of gold bullion on goldprice.org last evening at 7:10pm Zambian time stood at about US$6.5million for some ll8kgs. DEC sold the bullion in its custody at about US$4.million in July. No tender procedure was implemented and the buyer was single-sourced.
The gold saga has brought much embarrassment onto the office of the former President, forcing him to issue a statement on October 16 admitting he had met Bozaianu, but that his meeting was not sinister.
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).”
Mr Sata sacked the Zambia Police Service’s Lusaka Division commanding officer Mlhakeni Zulu for the oversight and immediately ordered a probe into the gold that went missing, ostensibly under DEC custody. The gold was seized from Zimbabwean nationals at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in 2007.
A DEC acting spokesperson and police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana could not be reached for comment last evening when the Daily Mail went to press.
Mr Jere, on the hand, declined to comment when this newspaper called his mobile number last evening referring all queries to Mr. Wakumelo Mikatazo, Mr Banda’s spokesman.
President Sata has embarked on a cleansing process, which aims at drastically reducing the levels of corruption which he said had reached “threatening levels” under his predecessor.
When he addressed Parliament recently, Mr. Sata said he was prepared to “lose” friends as he embarked on the lonely journey to bury the scourge of corruption that has contributed to high poverty levels at more than 65 percent of Zambia’s 13 million people.
Some critics have called his ‘repeated’ anti-graft message mere rhetoric even though the Abuse of Office clause in the Anti-Corruption Commission Act is on its way back after being removed, but the jury is still out.
Mr Bozaianu wants Mr Sikota of Central Chambers to compel, legally, the Zambian government to pay him US$1 million for “injuring” his reputation. Mr Sikota said if his client wins the case and ever gets the money, he hopes to give it to charity.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
“He wants to give it to charity!” My Foot!!!!! The sucker has just found another opportunity to suck some more cash out of Zambia! If he is serious about clearing his name, HE WOULD JUST INSIST ON THAT. PERIOD!!!
Am abit confused. The man didn’t participate in the transaction nor receive any benefit but yet the the he “feels” that the transaction was “perfectly correct”.
I suspect that the man has participated be it passive or active. How come he knows who bought the gold? He’s definitely passively involved.
Nominations for 2011 blogger of the year:
1. For the most objective – MMD chiefbootlicker, senior citizen
2. For the eccentric – mushota
3. For the most fanatical – maestro hehehehehehe, kizito, mr. capatialist
Why is he changin his earlier statement? How did he know about this transaction? Who introdiced these 2 companies to DEC? How come these companies are based in switzerland? Who are the owners?
If this man is aware of such a transaction then there is need for him to turn state witness otherwise he has case to answer! Was this man an agent and of the two SA companies and if yes then he has a cut to this deal!
Does RB have a trading/ mining license for this man to go and see him to finalize the transaction? Zambian minierals must benefit all and not just a few!!Thanks Mr President for exposing these greedy entities we are behind you on the fight against corruption!
Let him shed on the meeting with Banda ! Note both him and Banda are not tsaying what their meeting was about ? Personally I would like Mr Banda to tell the nation why he met the Swiss ! Just to look at each other ?
I know Nicola. A Swiss businessman who owns hydro electric stations, he owns more than 50 Castles around Europe, he is a multi billionaire in Euros. He is the one building as a donation the philanthropy hospital in Chiparamba, he is the one paying the membership fees for Zambia in UNESCO, he has no business ventures in Zambia. He has a soft spot for Zambia and was introduced to it 30 years ago being RB’s friend since RB was an internationally acclaimed diplomat.
He will sue Zambia but if wins he will donate the money to Zambian charities. He will continue to support Zambia regardless who is in power.
We called him a fugitive
RUBBISH
Let the truth come out. Those with information bring it out.
Hmmm? Can someone please lift the veil for us to see who owns (are the shareholders) of the two Swiss based ‘South African Companies’. How come Nicola knows so much about the transaction that he was never involved in? Who is giving him all that data? To many ???????????????????????????
The things this nation is dragged into sometimes boggles the mind…where did this gold come from? Why is this man paying unesco fees for Zambia? Why? What the F is going on here? Why do some people think Zambia is their toy shop?
Another circus! The president was misled by the shsushsu and he made public pronouncements without checking, hope he will apologize to the buzaianu and we move on as a country
I hope that the man, if he was involveed in the transaction, will not win the case.
If indeed he was not involved and that as a nation we wrongly accused him and if he wins the case then it will be a great loss to our nation.
Because, to a nation like Zambia whose budget is less than K20 trilion, giving away $100 milion which is K1/2 trilion is totally un called for and unacceptable.
In case we lost this case as a nation, there would be need to evaluate our actions; wasn’t it posible to avoid this kind of thing we have found ourselves in????????
Was it not posiible to take time and gather facts before making accusations????
We need to redefine our governance path as a nation!!!
We need to improve our style of governance because we are no longer acting but in real governance!!
Just as @ #6 Why is Nicolae devulging so much information about a transaction he has never known about or involved in and going to an extent of terming the transaction “perfectly correct” even though as per norm in the previuos government it was done through single sourcing? Though Sata had been quick to let the cat out of the bag probabily as i suspected acted on inesufficient information, I NOW SMELL A RAT AS GOLD IS GOLD and perfectly seemingly so for the calibre of these businessmen “tycoons”.
This guy is not intellectually cheap. He studied the whole transaction (which most of us have not and depend on MCS for info) before coming out with guns blazing. That is what we ought to do also, get all the facts right before going public – as easy as that. Getting too excited will cost us something one day.
advisers………..for sata, where are you? you are stealing money from the poor zambians by not performing your duties.
@ Calculated Change . . . . . The Nicola you know is he 42years old. Known RB since he was 12 years when RB was a diplomat . . . …. Check your data. Maybe you are referring to the man’s father or grandfather
Gentlemen, these are very sad developments. We need to get to the bottom of this and if need be, call in the Scotland Yard and I am pretty certain, VP Guy Scott can facilitate this and the British Govt will no doubt assist. If Bwesani Lupiya has fingers in this, there’s need to “chop off” those fingers in view of the zambian public. Its these things that have brought shame, embarrasment, desease, hunger and suffering on the Zambian masses for many years now. We should show NO mercy to these thieves.
I think # 6 is right. How come he knows alot in a transaction which is not his. Can someone pliz tell us who owns those companies.
This will just exhaust your much needed energy My President because this is going to drag on for years to come and you will end up having heart problems (or bewitched like they did to Mwanawasa). Let it go and lets concentrate on building our “brand new” nation
This is what worries me with the way the presidency is carried around this country who furnished information to HE President Sata? People should be fair to our leaders and be credible by giving correct information to our leaders. We stand to lose this money at a time we need to build this nation. I recall former President Banda blowing hot air about the post and some millions of kwachas about the post. I hope people recall how the entire presidency was embarrassed by that event. Ba Sata please slow down with this issues let other people speak on your behalf, you can still call the shorts from behind, like a foodball coach in control of a team from the sidelines
Madhouse @ No3 Super thinking;I support your list of nominees but I also add one for Nominees for change of name in 2011;Both you and bootlicker are joint contenders.As someone earlier blogged,bootlicker needs rebranding to a name that fits his truly analytical skills(esp when we remove the partisan component).We will still accept the fact that he is MMD.Some of the most eccenteric (read insulting) names seem to have evaporated with the elections LOL!!!!!!
The Guy has already instructed his lawyers to sue the Zambian Govt for a $1 m following Govt reluctance to apologise.I see him winning because the motormouth played to the gallery instead of handling that issue away from public domain.
Hallo ! Société Nationale du Seujet SA and Valsior SA are not South African companies but Swiss Companies. Just Google them. SA in French means Société Anonyme, meaning PVT in English. Zambia is not full of fools Sir, we shall clobber you in the end.
President Sata should consult first.
Some times yapping can cause problems. The Zambian Govt sold the GOLD on behalf of DEC sometime between July and September 2010. DEC got a share and procured vehicles and paid for rentals. The Swiss GUY was not involved. Mr SATA called him a fugitive and all sorts of names. Let him sue us for being foolish through our presido. VIVA SIKOTA.
Ulichipuba iwe
PRESIDENT SATA WAS JUST GIVEN THE INFO PLEASE. HE PREDICTED BY TELLING THE CABINET THAT THEY SHOULD NOT MISLEAD HIM. HE HAS FATHERS (PRIESTS) WHO WILL TELL HIM TO SAY SORRY TO THIS ITALIANO AND WE SHALL APOLOGIZE ON HIS BEHALF TOO.
LET THE SHUSHUZ NOW START TELLING AND ADVISING THE PRESIDENT PROPERLY.
He’s sueing for K100m and not K1m, LT inform us correctly please, as for the presido where are his advisors or the people around him should give correct information before he makes announcements.
PF GRZ can you start governing the country as opposed to fault finding.We need new projects .
Interesting. Let’s hope he’s not the same wealthy guy involved in electricity scandal in UK 2002 with the dodgy company who openly has a Swiss company that sets up ghost businesses in Switzerland to hide ownership. Surely can’t be the dubious character who is a Swiss of Romanian descent who is always having to ‘deny’ involvement in energy industry scandals across Europe. No! This is straight up philanthropist who loves Zambia. Google is so unreliable…
The election victory for the PF was based on lies and rummers.
But as I said early last week, that you can win an election based on lies and rummers, but you cannot rule a nation based on lies and rummers.
let this man come and get his appology in person if he is not wanted by DEC the same way he came. he should again apply for his landing rights which we shall grant but surely he will not take off from here coz we shall cage him. how come he has so much info about the transaction he was not in anyway involved in? me a zambian living in nipa area a stones throw from lamya house i know nothing about lapgreen siliya transaction what about him? how did he get such privileged information
I like the advise from the in coming MMD president Felix Mutati in parley and i quote ” Speed is good, but order is crucial”. end of quote. Can the President take note of this statement and apply it in his managing of Zambia!
The president should fire all those shushuhus who are busy misleading him every day.Its very embarassing to have chaps misleading a head of atste to issue such serious statement like the gold scam case.Now imagine if this chap wins his case, he will be smiling all the way to the bank.If anything goes to waste we can send R.B jst like kaunda went to Angola, this time will be R.B to apologise on our behalf
May be sata doesnt seek advice from the Shushushus. Dont jump to conclusions.
if he is RB good friend who knows that such claim will take away tax payer money then he wuold not claim a huge sum of money but would clain resonably but shame our govnment for the mistake . after lo HE the president was exited and strong on such bad so he could have not waited for more imformation. but what i see is the fight between RB and HE President Sata . so if RB is Zambian he shuold advise his so called good friend who came to comfort him of the election loss to consider us zambians who intially will pay this money
One can only hope he was let nowhere near ZESCO…. oh wait…someone placed him at UNESCO on our behalf…Lord help us all for we know not what we have had done in our name. Hope clever lawyers can get real answers. No time to get bullied by someone claiming he is all things beautiful to us. Peel away the layers. There is more to this than meets the eye. The fact Swiss or Cypriot companies with SA at the end are coming up makes it look increasingly like this… reportingproject.net/powerbrokers/sub_country01.html
Wait a minute – do we mine gold in Zambia? where? whats the name of the mine and who owns it?Who dug that Gold from the earth and why was it in DEC offices for so many years?If this man bought the gold-whats wrong with that.I hope Sata will not bring embarassment to the country because he spoke too soon on what our intelligence offices should have been handling.He is sueing $1million dollars.Remember you haven’t even yet paid the Gabon disaster families their compensation and its 20yrs overdue.
@Mabvuto, you are such a dull chap.In this information age how can you ask how Bizaianu could have so much information.Jst like you have so much information on the subject thats how he got info also.You have newspapers online all over, and you mean you didnt finishy reading the article.this chap is a long time friend of R.B dont you think he could have emailed or even called.Dont be so dull young man.such ignorance is very dangerous when you are surrounded by so much information all over.
number 7 you are very correct.. THis all bcoz of cheap atterance by the cobra.. That man is the president not oldinary person on the streets.. HE should watch his mouth. The dull cadres just worship him.
@ Aphiri ana Bwela, Its shameful to be zambian sometimes because when you see a rich man,all that comes to mind if he is not white is he is a thief,so you mean no zambian should live above the poverty line.I know of people in government, civil servants doing fine in business.Infact one of the chaps started by borrowing money frm these lending companies…..this chap goes to Dubai to buy car spares.This time he is a big time rich bt he is still working as civil servant.This stupidity of labelling people thiefs before you know them should stop.Zambians we are also entitled to riches.This complex thing should stop…..encourage one another not PHD.
THESE ARE COMPLICATED DEALS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE AT THE DIRECTION OF STATE HOUSE. THAT SWISS MAN HAS CONNECTIONS WORLD OVER AND HAS TH CAPACITY TOM MILK ZED FOR DEFEMATION OF CHARACTER. ONE WONDER SIF THOSE CLOSE TO HE SCM ARE ADVISING BEFORE HE COMMENTS ON ANYTHING ARE JUST TOO SCARED FOR THEIR JOBS THAT THEY CANT TELL HIM THE TRUTH. LET DEC COME UT CLEAN ON THIS MATTER THEY KNOW MORE THAN MEETS OUR EYES.
No comment! ” He who comes to equity must come with clean hands” per Lord Denning.
We shall see as evidence unveils. Those companies could be mere special purpose vehicles.
The veil of incorporation will be unveiled to see who was behind the curtains. A very good test case for Company Law 101. Wina a Zalila. For the case to proceed and maintain integrity parliament should remove immunity of RB.
@Munyono????? I have called no one a thief. All I have done is humorously pointed out that the man called a philanthropist by one press person is called dubious by another. Have you read the article? No need to insult me for stating my opinion. You appear to have the wrong end of the stick so I suggest you read through my words with a viewpoint other than your current one. The complex must be yours if you are seeing black and white in my words.
Zambia should not get bullied by someone who has a habit of hiding businesses in which he has a vested interest in behind Swiss borders. I am sure there are decent companies that aid people and there are dirty companies that aid people. Not sure what your real point is though. Or is it ‘pick a fight with a fellow Zambian’ day as usual on LT.
May the law take its course, without fear or favour. We are all innocent until proved guilty.
As for HEMCS, excellency, honour and dignity goes with the office. There’s a reason why they are called “His Excellency …”. Its like marriage, once you marry, you just cant continue behaving as though you are still single.
@Mabvuto, what is this chap up to.He is proposing Bizaianu come here to zambia,then we arrest him.This is the same kind of error the previous administration had.Arresting people anyhow, then start looking for evidence.When they dont find they aquit them, then rearest, again aquit.Chaps like mabvutop should not be taken serious.As much as we want people to account for their wrong.Proper investigations should be done.Not jst arresting people
Mr Sata Should swallow his pride and apologise to Dr.Buzaianu for character pilage. Facts are clearly emerging that he is innocent in the whole Gold gate. Now we know what we didn’t know that gold was sold to two named companies not Dr Buzaianu. If Mr Sata put the ball on the ground, he could ‘ve gotten it right. In hest called Dr Buzaianu a fugitive and now can’t apologise to him and eventually being sued. Never happened to a head of state embarassing himself before his nationals. Sack wrong advisors? not solution. Mr Sata has to lern to be a president of a country fitting respect for himself and others. World philanthropists are respected world over its folly to panter at them. Long before Sata being president, they were doing charitable work, like Bill & Melinda Gate, Bob Gediof etc.
..maybe the philanthropist has a twin with the same name, date of birth, citizenship and line of business in poor countries with less than philanthropic business practices. I am guessing his wikipedia stub comes from his own team… awaiting the investigation with cheerful smile. I will apologise too if he’s got a twin.
I agree with you #44. The President should let these issues be handled by Law enforcement Agents and not the whole of the President issuing statements on unverified facts. Gold, whether stolen or not, should have been investigated quietly and only announce after all the relevant channels have been exhausted and all the facts gathered. We know he wants to finish everything in 90 days but i think he should take his time since he has a 5 year period to correct things. Consult and speak only when it is necessary to do so.
#12 Fine! I heard that the amount claimed is US$100m that you have mentioned, and not US$1m quoted in the article by Daily Mail. So what is the correct figure?
“I am not telling you who the shareholders of Energy Holding are. They are anonymous Swiss companies and I won’t tell you who owns them. I am no longer involved with these companies anyway,” said Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu, one of the most controversial characters in the Romanian power market. Now, how cany such a contraversial character tell you the truth. He’ll certaunly sweep all the dirty under the carpet while splashing the sheet to the undiscerning docile Zambians critical of the President’s announcement.
Zambians, so full of fear. Have courage please, this is your country. You want to be controlled by gypsies?
Shame.. shame.. you must release the Zimbabwean man (the owner of that gold) to safe more embarrassment to Zambia (RB) Selling suized iterms illegal is a crime :d
If he did not know anything about the gold, how come he knows so many details about the gold and it’s transactions more than any Zambian? If he knows about the South Africans, then he was involved.This guy is not a Zambian, how come he was so privy to so much information.
#36, Munyono
If a crime is committed say murder, knowing to many details about it will only mean that I was there when this crime was being perpetrated. Information is what differentiates the innocent from the guilty and that’s how the police investigates and catches the culprits. This guys knows too much for someone who had nothing to do with the gold.
About Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu
Born in Romania (December 4, 1968)
Citizenship: Swiss
Education: Law University – bachelor’s of Law, PhD in Criminal Taxation Law
In the course of more than 18 years of professional experience, he has built major businesses in various fields of activity in Switzerland, Romania and other European countries. He has successfully initiated and developed global businesses and projects, especially in the energy and oil/gas sectors. Nicolae Buzaianu is highly respected by industrial suppliers of equipment for energy generation, as well as leading companies of consultancy and services involved in large power plant projects. He has developed a strong reputation in the energy sector by managing energy trading, energy management service and solution companies..
“The tricky part”
Nicolae Buzaianu has been an active promoter of competition, and is involved in the development of the European competitive energy markets. He has incubated various strategic alliances and partnerships among renowned international companies in various fields. He is well versed in making commercial arrangements, carrying out negotiations and execution of operations.
With experience and wealth and knowledge…even beyond SIKOTA WINA HIS LAWYER I see that he could have been a middle man making arrangement in Gold transaction that is why he knew the data of companies in onvolved…ofcourse he miight have gotten commision to facilitate, that is how the game is played
@General – hope you have noted that his wikipedia stub also has the following words…
This page was last modified on 24 October 2011 at 13:20.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Nbuzaianu
It’s a PR war now. There is more out there than what he has to say about himself…
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