Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stanley Kakubo, resigned on Wednesday after he was caught on tape receiving about $200,000 in cash and a Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicle as a bribe from Chinese contractors.
In the video, reportedly taken in 2022, the minister promised to sell rich mineral mines to Chinese businessmen. The video, however, surfaced after he failed to live up to the terms.
The minister said he resigned because he didn’t want his controversy to distract President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, Lusaka Times reports.
Mr Kakubo, however, vowed, “In due course, we will provide the accurate context surrounding the recent developments.”
The president promptly accepted his resignation while appreciating his commendable contributions and leadership as a minister.
Mr Kakubo’s scandal shows how prevalent bribery has become among African politicians. In 2015, judges were caught on camera receiving bribes in Ghana.
In 2018, a Nigerian politician, Umar Ganduje, was caught on camera receiving bribes from public works contractors while serving as governor of Kano in the country’s North-West. He declined to resign from office and went on to win reelection.
After completing his two years, he was offered a ministerial position by President Bola Tinubu. However, this was thwarted following Peoples Gazette’s report about internal rancour over the controversial appointment.
After being dropped for ministerial consideration, Mr Ganduje became the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, maintaining his political influence over the president’s party.