Stanley Kasongo Kakubo (born 24 May 1980) is a Zambian politician. He has served as a Member of the National Assembly for Kapiri Mposhi since 2016 and was Minister of Foreign Affairs between September 2021 and December 2023.

Biography

Kakubo was born in Livingstone and spent part of his youth living in Kapiri Mposhi.^[1] His father worked for Zambia Railways.^[1] He attended the School of Natural Sciences at the University of Zambia, before leaving to study chartered accountancy in United Kingdom. After returning to Zambia, he joined the Zambia National Commercial Bank where he was a manager for treasury and business banking.^[1]

Kakubo was chosen as United Party for National Development candidate for Kapiri Mposhi for the 2016 general elections, a seat held by the Patriotic Front. He was subsequently elected to the National Assembly with a 1,590 majority.^[2] After becoming an MP, he joined the parliamentary Budget Committee.^[3]

In February 2021 Kakubo was appointed to the UPND national management committee. In the 2021 general elections he was re-elected with a 4,000-vote majority. With UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema winning the presidential election, Kakubo was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on 7 September.^[4]

In April 2022 Kakubo was embroiled in a controversy after being seen leaving a Chinese factory with a bag, later explained as a calendar. The next year, after social media stories of Kakubo being paid $200,000 and a luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicle, he resigned as Foreign Affairs Minister.^[5]

References