CONFUSION ‘Engulfs’ RB’s First Post Presidency Statement

Confusion engulfed the first statement issued by the Office of the Fourth Republican President, President Rupiah Banda. The statement which is highly defensive of the visit by Dr. Nichola Bogdan Buzaianu who was until recently a Zambia’s representative to UNESCO and of Dickson Jere’s role in the visit, aired on Radio Phoenix at 13hrs on Sunday October 16, and quoted Banda’s new Administrative Assistant, Mikatazo Wakumelo. When Mikatazo Wakumelo was contacted for a copy of the statement by a staffer of The Zambian Inquirer, he expressed ignorance. “We have not issued any statement.” He answered. When the staffer reminded him that the statement was just aired on Radio Phoenix and was attributed to him, he expressed surprise. It later emerged that an unsigned statement was issued and distributed to the media by former press aide to President Banda, Dickson Jere on his behalf but attributed to Wakumelo.

Tumfweko has now learnt that Jere was directed to do a draft statement on the numerous corruption allegations that have been levelled against the administration of President Rupiah Banda. However, Jere issued a nine-point statement dedicated to defending the visit of Dr. Buzaiunu and his relationship with President Banda. Apparently, President Banda was not aware that a statement had been issued to the media but had wanted a comprehensive statement issued on all allegations so far levelled against him. President Banda had advised that Jere prepares a draft but comprehensive press statement that should go through his legal team. He wanted a polite but strong statement that should parry all corruption allegations raised against him so far. He had also directed that the statement should carry sober facts. However, the statement so far issued merely defends Dr. Buzaiunu, his visit to Zambia and his non-fugitive status in Zambia. President Banda expected a broader statement on the corruption allegations and lacking the apprehension the issued statement has reflected. Jere is expected to appear before a combined team of law enforcement agencies on Monday 17th October at 14hrs. The team has been hastily set-up to investigate corruption allegations against former president Rupiah Banda’s administration. It is operating from the premises of former Taskforce on Corruption, on Buluwe Road in Woodlands, Lusaka. Later, Mr. Wakumelo gave a signed copy to the media of the earlier statement appearing resigned to the fact it was the best thing to do under the circumstances. On what has become tradition at State House functions and announcement, new Republican President, Michael Sata has been issuing almost daily attacks against his predecessor raising numerous corruption allegations against him or his administration. In what journalists have come to term as “staccato gun fire”, referring to Sata’s numerous allegations against the administration of his predecessor every time he speaks, includes a gold scam that the DEC seized in 2007 but sold or auctioned off in July 2011. Many have begun to question the wisdom of Mr. Sata making public allegations from classified information or from intelligence information. The United Party for National Development (UPND) have accused Mr. Sata of trying to run a side-show to divert the attention of nationals from their electoral demands from the past election. The party says the path Mr. Sata is walking the country was seen under president Mwanawasa when he made numerous public allegations against his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba, a debate that captivated the country for seven years. The party has called for comprehensive corruption investigations that are impersonal, professional and would be done on merit not just to scandalise political opponents but to help in the governance of the country.

Below is the full Press statement issued to the press :

STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF THE FOURTH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT

Following the numerous allegations made against 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. 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.
That Dr. Nichola Bogdan Buzaianu, a Swiss-based businessman, requested to pay a visit to the former President during his planned trip to Zambia. Dr. Buzaianu applied to the Zambian authorities for permission to land at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport 48 hours before his trip to Zambia and the Zambian Government granted the landing rights to Dr. Buzaianu who arrived on Wednesday, 12th October, 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. He did the finger print 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.
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. The former President provided vehicles for his visitor to pick him at the airport together with the state security attached to the former President’s office. President Banda also requested his former press aide Mr. Dickson Jere to receive his guest on his behalf at the airport because his security did not know him.
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 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.
That 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. 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. He flew out the same day with airport permits for his flights from Mfuwe.
That President Banda welcomes the investigations of the sale of gold by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), which has been linked to Dr. Buzaianu. 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.
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. 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.
That President Banda is available at any given time to answer to any clarification which the current Head of State Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata may have concerning this matter or indeed any issue before they are made public. He 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.

Signed:

Mikatazo Wakumelo

Administrative Secretary

Office of the Fourth President

Posted by Editor on October 16, 2011. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

33 Responses to CONFUSION ‘Engulfs’ RB’s First Post Presidency Statement

MIZ

October 16, 2011 at 7:05 pm

iam back with full force….this is site is a playing ground for thugs from pf… and the editor of this site is a pf…that is why you are namimg things anyhow,,,now we shall hear that theres sata province and pf district…..my gal friend is crying in zambia…now it is my home work to get her out from zed…
Dien

October 16, 2011 at 7:43 pm

I am confused now!
msana wanzili

October 16, 2011 at 7:46 pm

There’s somwthing not very right in this so called ‘clarification’. RB only needed to explain his part in the scandal and leave the other bit to Dr Buzuina to explain his mission to Zambia
nckbnd

October 16, 2011 at 8:08 pm

jere na alaabee nibakawalala bonse bafunika ku mangiwa.
Nakabemba

October 16, 2011 at 8:15 pm

Get you gallu friend from Zed you economic refugee running away from your own country trying to live in the foreign land without honour but enjoying what others have already worked for. I am yet to return to Zambia coz my roots are there and I will always be Zambian. I dont know if you know Europe well. alot of countries there are by far smaller then the Northern Province. What are you talking about? The Nothern Province has lagged behind because it was too big and splitting it into two may at least help develop the region. Hey I know what it means living in another country. Yes If you are not Zambian I can agree with you but if you are Zambian you would agree with the New President Miko that the country needs to be developed. Ahahahaha May be you are not Zambian sorry get ur gallu friend out for real.
MIZ

October 16, 2011 at 8:29 pm

Nakabemba MWAICHE NALAKUPONONA,,,,ARE YOU HAPPY TO IN ZED? I GUESS YOU ARE NOT ….COME ON
Silious gerd

October 16, 2011 at 8:29 pm

Ba miz naba wiso ba rb and yor b**ch.stay thieves.hel wil see u wait u even know that u are only remaing witg 155 days to go.ure just about to die prepare yor ways.repeat and avoid enternal death
Donqueen

October 16, 2011 at 8:30 pm

we can draw a lot of parallels between Sata and Chiluba who rushed to discredit the intelligence wings by exposing the tunnels at statehouse.
Sata is trying desperately to tarnish RBs name as a way of deviating attention to what he promised the young unemployed electorate.
Let the police and other wings do their job as you appointed them and so must have faith in them.
Musokotwane and Likolo have already being judged and found guilty before even going to court.
Wren

October 16, 2011 at 8:31 pm

Ifyakulila kutulo bafimwena kumalushi! Tepapa mwatampa ukuluka! Mulecimo indalama mwaiba! Uko tuleisa.
Dar es salaam

October 16, 2011 at 8:52 pm

Whatever has been said by Jere may sound good but all of us have know cobra in many instances that he doesnt say things from without.This Swiss guy is now called a business man and the same is Zambia`s permanent representative at UNESCO.Twakulatambakofye fwefupuba ekomwakulashana
MIZ

October 16, 2011 at 9:30 pm

This site is not a playing ground for Pf thugs. I would like to recant my ****** statement. My girlfriend is crying in Zambia because she’s an overly dependent slut who is incapable of working to earn her keep but would much rather follow me abroad and mooch off the west. We will both work minimum wage jobs and post foolish pictures on face book giving other Zambians the false impression of success abroad. I am not back in full force I am an online joke, feel free to laugh at me

I am not as intimidating as I would like people online to believe I am, I am simply a sad individual living abroad suffering from a combination of culture shock and exclusion from the greater western population just like many other third world racial minorities.
Origin Zambian

October 16, 2011 at 10:19 pm

This is childish, irresponsible presidency from both Mr. Sata and Mr Banda. They are busy accusing and counter accusing each other while Zambians have suffered by one and nothing of substance is coming from another except STACCATO GUNFIRE which is not amussing to ZAmbians. These two have breached laws and protocols and now we are about to experience one of them as a LIAR.This have backfired with Banda and it wont be long for Sata as rebbutle is prooving Sata in an awkward position of ranting before verifying issues. How does Sata expect IG Dr. Malama to arrest Dr Buzaianu without evidence of offence. Dr Malama is a competent man, well trained and intelligent.Sata should just put his STACCATO act fullproof without lapses and ommissions to avoid embarassing himself.
Kunda Mambo

October 16, 2011 at 10:33 pm

Let the police and courts if need be do their job to the best of their knowledge after which RB and cronies will either clear their names or be made to account for their misdeeds. let’s not fight this battle in the media. we have competent institution to handle this job. Just a warning to HH and his UPND, they should exercise restraint in their comments instead of commenting on the matters that are under investigations.
Kibanza

October 16, 2011 at 10:57 pm

I will repeat myself that this site is a PF project and the editors are donchi kubembwa. the tone of articles and analysis speaks for itself. The watchdog ni zee and they have more credibility than this junk called website for online news.
MIZ

October 16, 2011 at 11:31 pm

some pipo are using my name….but no problem miz is my name
MIZ

October 16, 2011 at 11:39 pm

you are an *****…a person with a badbackground and without culture what do is stealing other pipo’s goods in the name of rioting *****…don’t compare me to ur madness..you are saving with a 2 dollers a day and you claim to be good,,,,foolish,,,
MIZ

October 16, 2011 at 11:42 pm

you id**t stop using my name
birima

October 17, 2011 at 12:02 am

sata doesnt say things from without? he is the biggest liar around. he won presidency through lies. which he is under pressure to prove. now he is busy honouring his fellow crook kaunda. who is such a wicked loser. he does not forgive and does not forget. he is also a traitor who is so jealousy he could not let his brother in law enjoy the presidency just because he assciated with chiluba. he betrayed him by sending his sons to pf. these guys are both masons. luciferians.a big old man like kaunda being controlled by ka mmembe?
Sobelenge

October 17, 2011 at 12:45 am

Why is RB still referred to as president Banda. Imwe ba Tumfweko, tamwaumfyileko ati RB is former presido pa Zedi.. I no you did, so correct this stuff..
MIZ

October 17, 2011 at 2:18 am

Oops I once again forgot to take my meds pardon my foolishness living abroad like the $2 slut that my girlfriend is, has made me incapable of reasoning well. I am awfully “miz”-taken hence my rambling about BS no one cares about. you ***** stop using my name.
DK

October 17, 2011 at 8:09 am

LET US WAIT AND SEE!
Zlu

October 17, 2011 at 8:54 am

what u have just wrote makes sence 2 u alone ba birima not to everyone.
Corruption Antidote

October 17, 2011 at 8:57 am

MIZ grow up you imbecile! No one is interested in your slut.
Corruption Antidote

October 17, 2011 at 9:04 am

Funny, if you feel this site is pf, why not just leave unceremoniously as you came in or better still just air your views not about the political orientation of the site but pertaining to the topic.
kuklaxklan

October 17, 2011 at 9:08 am

birima be objective,be fair when addressing issues of national interest.if it had not been for KK even your ****** ass would not have known how to write all the ‘shit’ you are writing.Be grateful ‘dickhead’
Dragsquard Mbewe

October 17, 2011 at 9:27 am

There’s no smoke without fire,these fools are involved in one way or another.
ephis

October 17, 2011 at 10:40 am

How does an entire former president hide behide his procurement system, even before investigtions reach an advanced stage. I smell a mbeba here. Next he is going to plead ingnorance
tumfwe

October 17, 2011 at 11:59 am

remember hh was promised to be vp by rb and now its is connected to the plunder so he is feeling the heat wafwa walemana
bwalya

October 17, 2011 at 1:35 pm

Why is this tumfweko paper usually negative against Sata or is it a question of ignorance? in my opinion Sata making allegations against Banda on the news is not improper or cheap politicking to make Banda look bad,some of the things we have heard are completely absurd and out of order! I would like to believe we all agree with Sata’s shock at some of what Banda did and most importantly the people of Zambia must know the things and possible crimes he committed while in office. How many children died of hiv/aids because there were no arvs in hosiptals throughout Zambia and all the while this Banda has the audacity to buy two vehicles worth 3.6 billion kwacha? If you ask me he has and never has had any regard for the Zambian people and fully deserves all that he is getting now and will come his way. As for you tumfweko, no wonder you are one of the small papers in Zambia if you who is “supposedly” part of the media doesn’t not understand the fundamental importance of transparency and dissemination of information on such crucial matters then you have no business in the arena of big and serious media houses like the post!
pabwato

October 17, 2011 at 1:58 pm

ephis..ure so right..bwezani y hide in procurement guys ,u wer the boss,why allow them to procure expensive cars for no good reason when pipo r dying in hospitals etc,rupiah never answers questions,we want an answer,what was the logic in buying cars worth billions amidst poverty in zed.
MIZ

October 17, 2011 at 2:55 pm

SHIT IDIOTS FORM PF STOP USING MY NAME,,, IN THIS SITE IAM NOT PROTECTED I KNOW THE REASON WHY BECAUSE IAM NOT A PF,,,FOR UR OWN INFORMATION I WILL NEVER BE A POOR FRONT….AND YOU FOOLS STOP USING INTERNET CAFE OK INSTEAD OF BUYING FOOD OR PAMELA YOU AR GOING KU CAFE SENSLESS,,,U SEE THAT UR PRESIDENT IS MAD AND OLD
Chama

October 17, 2011 at 3:20 pm

Growing old does not necessarily mean you have grownup, never understood why until now.MIZ it won’t hate to grow up a bit.
Realist

October 18, 2011 at 3:47 am

RB is worried and confused.