Anti-corruption authorities to analyze Zambia’s international minister over cash-counting video

LUSAKA, Zambia — Anti-corruption authorities in Zambia mentioned they are going to examine after a video posted on social media allegedly confirmed the international minister receiving piles of money from a Chinese businessman.

Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo resigned however denied wrongdoing and mentioned he had stepped down as a result of he didn’t need to trigger a distraction for the federal government. He didn’t deny he was within the video however mentioned there had been “malicious claims over a business transaction between my private family business and our business partner.”

“In due course, we will provide the accurate context,” he mentioned.

Kakubo mentioned he would maintain his place as a parliament member. The Zambian Anti-Corruption Commission mentioned it could examine the circumstances surrounding the video.

The video reveals at the least three males counting piles of cash neatly stacked on a desk, a few of it in U.S. {dollars} and a few of it in Zambian kwacha. None of the lads’s faces are seen, however they are often heard counting out the money. The Chinese nationwide has been recognized because the proprietor of a mining firm.

Kakubo has been accused of receiving $200,000 and a Mercedes-Benz within the deal. Opposition political events referred to as for him to be investigated and, if obligatory, prosecuted for corruption.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema accepted Kakubo’s resignation and thanked him for his “work and leadership.”

It’s the second time Kakubo has been accused of receiving bribes. He was photographed with a bag final 12 months at a cement manufacturing facility and accused of receiving items from one other Chinese nationwide. He mentioned the bag solely contained a calendar and a diary. The president defended him on that event.

China has sturdy enterprise ties with Zambia. More than 600 Chinese companies operated within the southern African nation in 2022, based on the Chinese Embassy. Many are concerned within the mining sector as Zambia is among the high copper producers on the earth and in addition has deposits of cobalt, nickel and manganese.

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This model corrects to say international minister, not finance minister.

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AP Africa information: https://apnews.com/hub/africa