Zambia’s Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo resigns over cash-on-table video
Zambia’s Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo resigned following allegations that he was recorded accepting a bundle of money from a Chinese entrepreneur.
He did not deny he was in the video.
Instead, Mr Kakubo said he was facing “malicious claims over a business transaction” and had resigned so that the government was not “distracted” by the controversy.
The footage depicts two individuals seated at a table, tallying up neatly arranged bundles of money, comprising both American dollars and Zambian kwacha.
Their identities remained hidden from view, yet this sparked widespread speculation on social media suggesting that the individuals might be Mr. Kakubo and a Chinese entrepreneur.
Certain individuals raised concerns about the absence of a bank transfer and the possibility of taxes being settled after the transaction.
Unconfirmed pictures of handwritten notes bearing signatures appeared on social media. One note indicated a purported “exchange” of $100,000 between a Zambian individual and a Chinese mining firm. Another note, dated July 8, 2022, referenced a combined amount of $200,000.
In his letter of resignation, Mr. Kakubo did not challenge the legitimacy of the video or the handwritten notes.
Instead, he stated that he was subjected to “false allegations regarding a business deal involving my personal family enterprise and our business associate, with whom we maintain a positive relationship.”
He said he had resigned as a minister to ensure that the government was not “distracted” from its efforts to improve the lives of Zambians, but he would remain an MP.
“In due course, we will provide the accurate context surrounding the recent developments,” the Lusaka Times news site quoted Mr Kakubo as saying.
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Mr. Hichilema accepted his resignation, saying he acknowledged Mr. Kakubo’s “commendable work and leadership”.
Mr. Kakubo has once again become embroiled in controversy for the second time.
Last year, he was accused of receiving a bribe after he was spotted leaving the office of a Chinese-owned cement company with a briefcase.
He denied any wrongdoing, while the president defended him, saying he had received a calendar and a diary.
Chinese companies are major investors in Zambia.
The Chinese embassy said in 2022 that more than 600 Chinese businesses had invested more than $3bn in Zambia.
Mr Kakubo is the first minister forced to resign since President Hakainde Hichilema took office in August 2021.
Mr Hichilema pledged to fight corruption, but the opposition accuses him of unfairly targeting its members, which he denies.
In his response to Mr Kakubo’s resignation, ex-President Edgar Lungu said he should be investigated for alleged corruption.
“I am not implying that Kakubo is guilty. All I am saying is that if there are no sacred cows in Mr Hichilema’s fight against corruption, Kakubo should be investigated and if need be prosecuted…,” Mr Lungu said.
Zambia’s Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo resigns over cash-on-table video
