Zambian Foreign Minister, Stanley Kakubo, steps down following video exposure of cash transactions

Zambia's Foreign Minister, Stanley Kakubo, has resigned following allegations that he was seen in a video receiving a large sum of money from a Chinese businessman. Although he did not deny being in the video, Kakubo claimed that he was being targeted with false accusations regarding a business transaction. He resigned from his position to avoid distracting the government from its work. The video showed two unidentified men counting cash, leading to speculation that Kakubo was one of them. Social media users questioned why the transaction was not done through a bank transfer and whether taxes had been paid. Unverified handwritten notes mentioning monetary exchanges between a Zambian and a Chinese mining company also circulated online. Although Kakubo did not challenge the video's authenticity or the notes, he claimed to be a victim of malicious claims. He will continue serving as a Member of Parliament and promised to provide more information about the situation in due course. President Hakainde Hichilema accepted his resignation, recognizing Kakubo's past work and leadership. This is not the first time Kakubo has been embroiled in controversy, as he previously faced bribery accusations. Chinese companies are significant investors in Zambia, with over 600 businesses reportedly investing more than $3 billion in the country. Kakubo's resignation marks the first departure of a minister since Hichilema became president. While Hichilema has vowed to combat corruption, the opposition accuses him of unfairly targeting its members, a claim he denies. Former President Edgar Lungu suggested investigating Kakubo for alleged corruption but clarified that he was not assuming his guilt.