ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stanley Kakubo, has tendered his resignation on Wednesday following the release of a video showing him accepting approximately $200,000 in cash and a luxury Mercedes-Benz from Chinese contractors as a bribe.
The video, reportedly recorded in 2022, captured the minister pledging to sell lucrative mineral mines to Chinese businessmen, but the scandal unfolded when he failed to fulfill these commitments.
In his resignation statement, Kakubo expressed his desire not to distract President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration with the controversy. He vowed to provide accurate context surrounding the developments in due course.
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President Hichilema promptly accepted Kakubo’s resignation, acknowledging his commendable contributions and leadership as a minister.
This scandal highlights the pervasive issue of bribery among African politicians. Similar incidents, such as judges caught receiving bribes in Ghana in 2015 and Nigerian politician Umar Ganduje accepting bribes while serving as Governor in 2018, underscore the challenges posed by corruption in the region.
Despite Kakubo’s resignation, the incident serves as a reminder of the broader issue of corruption and its impact on African politics.