Focus on Africa: Is the jailing of a former Zambian minister a watershed moment?

Podcast: Africa Daily / Focus on Africa, BBC World Service
Host: Charles Gitonga
Date: September 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode tackles three main stories:

• The landmark sentencing of two former Zambian officials for corruption, discussing its implications for anti-corruption efforts in Zambia.
• Egypt’s crackdown on TikTok influencers, highlighting tensions between digital freedoms and government-imposed “moral values.”
• The cultural debate over the definition of the celebrated Congolese dish, liboke, after its inclusion in the French dictionary.

The episode blends in-depth interviews, first-hand reactions, and expert commentary to provide African perspectives on key social and political issues.

1. Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Watershed?

[Main Segment: 01:01–10:03]

Key Points & Insights

• Former Foreign Minister Joseph Malangi sentenced to four years’ hard labour for corruption; ex-Treasury Secretary Fredson Yamba gets three years for unlawful transfer of state funds.
• Both men were high-ranking officials under late President Edgar Lungu—these are the first such convictions under current President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration.
• Transparency International ranked Zambia among the world’s most corrupt countries in 2024.
• Reactions are mixed: some see this as a genuine victory for justice, others as politically selective.

Expert Analysis: Kennedy Gondwe, Zambian Journalist

• Why this case matters:

  • "The convictions are certainly very important, especially given the fact that this latest one involves one of the most high-profile former ministers and the amount of money involved is quite huge."
    (Kennedy Gondwe, 02:28)
  • Public interest is high because "if the money were invested...how many kids would be educated? How many graduates would Zambia produce as opposed to that money going into the pockets of a selected few?"

• Mood in Court & Public Reactions:

  • "It was that of shock, it was somber, but it’s what it is. At the end of the day, justice has not only been seen to be done, but it’s been served."
    (Gondwe, 03:20)
  • Malangi still has some sympathizers; "Even if we’re given a dog to vote in your place, we’ll still vote for that place." (Gondwe, 03:57)

• Possibility of Appeal:

  • “Indications are that they will commence their leave of appeal. In fact, there have been unconfirmed reports they've already appealed...”
    (Gondwe, 04:21)

• Justice Perceived?

  • “Majority of the people feel that justice has been served. Except that there’s a mixed reaction on the length of the convictions...people feel that the sentences are actually shorter, others feel that they are harsh...”
    (Gondwe, 04:40)

• Is President Hichilema Delivering on Anti-Corruption?

  • “He’s definitely delivering on that. This is a high profile conviction. There have been ministers that have also been convicted for various offenses...However, his critics argue that he’s concentrating so much on past corruption...How about his own cabinet?”
    (Gondwe, 05:35)
  • No serving minister from the current administration has faced similar scrutiny.

• Selective Justice & Political Motivation?

  • “Members of the former ruling party that Edgar Lungu led are saying this corruption is only targeted at us. It’s politicized...We also want to see arrests and convictions of serving ministers.”
    (Gondwe, 07:32)

• Zambia’s Struggle with Corruption:

  • “Our index is quite bad. Our perception and image is quite bad...It’s incumbent upon the government and those charged with fighting corruption to really put their heads together and fight this corruption fairly, without fear and favor.”
    (Gondwe, 08:40)
  • Lack of action against current officials erodes faith in reform, especially as Zambia faces economic challenges.

Memorable Quotes

• “Justice has not only been seen to be done, but it’s been served.” (Gondwe, 03:20)
• “There is still room for the current government and president to fight that corruption, not only in words but in action.” (Gondwe, 09:22)
• “This whole fight may just be a fight in the newspapers.” (Gondwe, 09:55)

2. Egypt’s Crackdown on TikTok Influencers

[Segment: 10:03–20:40]

Key Points & Insights

• Dozens of online content creators—including teenagers—have been arrested in Egypt under a cybercrime law that condemns acts “offensive to family values and public morals.”
• High-profile arrests include 19-year-old influencer Mariam Ayman (Suzy l. Ordonia).
• Law is vague: “family principle” undefined, raising constitutional issues around freedom of expression.

Expert Voices:

• Amir Mahdi, Human Rights Watch Researcher, and BBC’s Rahab Ismail

  • Nature of Crackdown:

    • “Egyptian authorities since late July 2025 [are] carrying out a mass campaign of sweeping arrests and prosecutions targeting online content creators, influencers, but also Betty dancers, tattoo artists...”
      (Bernard Sacchilini for Mahdi, 10:44)
    • 27 confirmed arrests, possibly up to 41 or more.

  • Government Perspective:

    • Justifies actions as protecting “family values” under the cybercrime law.
      (Ismail, 13:04)
    • Law’s vagueness allows broad interpretation: “These value or these definitions sometimes could be a bit vague and they could be interpreted according to every person’s personal values or personal way and his lifestyle.”
      (Ismail, 13:57)

  • Public Debate:

    • Some families worry about negative role models for youth; others—especially activists—see curbs on free speech.
      (Ismail, 13:57 and 19:18)
    • Concerns also about the “fast way of gaining money and being rich is also a great concern for many people.”
      (Ismail, 19:18)

  • TikTok’s Response and Stakes:

    • Parliament gave TikTok three months to clamp down or risk being banned in Egypt, a market of over 100 million.
    • TikTok claims to have deleted 2.9 million videos proactively.
      (Ismail, 17:10)

Memorable Quotes

• “The government’s desire to control the public sphere...they are actually quite frightened by the audacity of the new generations, by the ability of those young people to express themselves freely.” (Mahdi via Sacchilini, 12:08)
• “Some families see that TikTok isn’t a safest space, especially for their younger generations and the younger people and their daughters and their sons.” (Ismail, 19:18)
• “It should stay a space that is free for people to express themselves freely.” (Ismail, 20:22)

3. Meaning and Memory: The Debate Over Liboke in the French Dictionary

[Segment: 20:40–32:16]

Key Points & Insights

• The revered Congolese dish liboke was recently added to the French Petit Larousse dictionary, described simply as “a dish of fish or meat wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over charcoal.”
• While some Congolese welcome the publicity, others—especially native speakers—argue the definition is reductive and misses cultural and culinary nuances.

Voices from the DRC and France

• Local Perspectives:

  • “The definition is good, but it’s missing something. Yes, when they say banana leaves. It is not only banana leaves that are used to cook liboke.” (Kennedy Gondwe, 21:48)
  • “The definition provides the clear picture...and it will be easy for other nationals across the world to have the clear picture of what liboke is.” (Bonaventure Sangamgongo, 22:01)

• Bernard Sacchilini, Linguist & Dictionary Advisor:

  • “Leboke is a word in Lingala, the most spoken language in the DRC. In Lingala, le bokeh means a dish...but it’s got another meaning. It means conviviality, and that happiness comes from being together. But we can’t add all the meanings of a word in the dictionary.” (Sacchilini, 23:06)
  • “Every word is entitled to two to three lines, not more than that. So despite our love for le bokeh, we couldn’t have done it any better.” (Sacchilini, 24:11)

• Cultural Significance:

  • “Liboke comes from the word liboke in Lingala, which means unity, harmonious unity…People living in harmony...So this word gave rise to liboke simply because the fish which is put inside the liboke, when you open it up, it is set up in a harmonious way.”
    (Sangamgongo, 27:34)
  • The dish is a weekend food, best enjoyed on the banks of the Congo river with others. “Most people take it with beer, as I have medical restrictions, I take it with zero Coke, sometimes with plain water, and I enjoy it.” (Sangamgongo, 25:18)

• Defining Ingredients & Preparation:

  • “In the definition, they use banana leaves. Whereas mostly in DRC, and especially in Kinshasa, we do not use banana leaves. We use a special leaf...called Congo. It’s a special leaf which ensures that the liboke is waterproof, there’s no soup leaking.” (Sangamgongo, 29:12)
  • Madeleine, Bonaventure’s daughter, offers a detailed description of preparing liboke: clean the fish, mix with onions and spices, wrap tightly in Congo leaves, and cook over fire. (31:04)

Memorable Moments

• “Even myself when talking, I could feel my mouth watering.”
  (Sangamgongo, 32:11)

• “Liboke...means conviviality, and that happiness comes from being together.”
  (Sacchilini, 23:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Zambia corruption verdicts & significance: 01:01–10:03
• Egypt TikTok crackdown: 10:03–20:40
• Liboke and the cultural dictionary debate: 20:40–32:16

Conclusion

This episode spotlights the complexities of progress and tradition across Africa—from political reforms and the struggle for transparent governance, to the debate over social media freedoms, to the safeguarding of cultural identity. Each story is a window onto the ways African societies contend with global pressures while holding on to their unique narratives. The voices assembled here offer insight, challenge, and celebration, making "Focus on Africa" true to its name.