A government official in Zambia has levelled allegations of graft against Dangote Cement, an arm of the group owned by billionaire, Aliko Dangote.
According to Reuters, Labour Minister, Fackson Shamenda said that a Nigerian executive working in the company’s Zambian unit tried to bribe him at a hotel.
Shamenda reportedly said this during a tour of the Dangote Industries Zambia (DIZ) $400 million dollar cement plant which is currently under construction.
He said:
“He told me that it was a tradition in their culture to give someone a token of appreciation. Maybe his idea was that I turn a blind eye to what is happening at Dangote,”
The company has however denied the allegations via a statement saying:
“For the record, DIZ categorically deny any claims of corruption and bribery and reserve our rights on this matter,”
The minister did not specify how much he was offered but he reportedly rejected the alleged bribe because he “had critical labour issues to sort out with the company and did not want to be compromised.”