By Vesla Centurion Kals
Amidst a media storm surrounding alleged improprieties in a business deal involving a private family enterprise, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation resigned Tuesday, delivering a seismic blow.
This high-profile departure comes as the government grapples with malicious claims, yet the minister emphasizes maintaining amicable ties with the implicated business partner.
In an unexpected move, the minister underscored the decision as a strategic measure to safeguard the government’s focus on addressing critical issues for the welfare of the Zambian people.
In his resignation statement, Mr. Kakubo expressed loyalty to the country’s President Hakainde Hichilema, the ruling United Party for National Development, and the government while affirming his dedication to parliamentary service for the people of Kapiri Mposhi.
As the resignation reverberates through political circles, speculation runs rife on social media platforms with President Hichilema earning commendation for his administration’s robust stance against corruption, further intensifying the public discourse.
Adding intrigue to the unfolding narrative, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has cast a watchful eye on the minister’s abrupt departure as even raided Mr. Kakubo’s house, local media reported Friday.
Meanwhile, former President Edgar Lungu charged that President Hichilema’s corruption fight is a sham, accusing him of applying double standards to the fight against the vice.
Mr. Lungu alleged that Hichilema is actively defending current ministers from facing prosecution on corruption allegations, while at the same time, pushing the courts to ensure all former leaders accused of corruption are jailed.
The former head of state further asked Zambians to denounce the said continued double standards saying this was happening at the same time president Hichilema is proclaiming that there will be no sacred cows in his fight against corruption.
Lungu says it is surprising and shameful that despite promising not to tolerate corruption from anybody, President Hichilema has allegedly failed to even seize the incident involving the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Stanley Kakubo to generally admonish his ministers and other government officials against engaging themselves in mischievous transactions.
Zambia finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with a political landscape in flux even as the new year beacons.
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