Keep Up With Global Black News

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox.

BY Josh Odoi, 12:27pm October 30, 2014,

Zambia Names White Acting President, First in Post-Apartheid Africa

by Josh Odoi, 12:27pm October 30, 2014,
Guy Scott Zambia

Guy Scott Zambia

Following the sudden death of President Michael Sata, Zambian Vice President Guy Scott (pictured) has been named the acting President till an election is held in 90 days.

RELATED: Zambian President Michael Sata Dead at 77 

Keep Up With Face2Face Africa On Facebook!

President Sata’s death comes just days after Zambia celebrated the 50th anniversary of independence from the United Kingdom. He is the second president to die in office in the southern African country.

His vice president and now Acting President Scott is a native Zambian of Scottish decent. Scott has been with Sata’s Patriotic Front (PF) party since 2001. He was appointed PF vice president in 2011, following their party’s election victory.

President Scott, a Cambridge-trained economist and farmer, is credited with helping his country recover from severe drought in the early ’90s. when he was the countries Agriculture minister.

It is widely believed that his vice presidential appointment is in part due to his enormous funding of the party while it was in opposition. Scott’s wealth reportedly helped PF gain power.

Even though it is a ceremonial post, the vice president, per the Zambian constitution, is next in line to become head of state in event of the President’s death. However, there could be a constitutional challenge to Scott’s ascendency since he violates the constitution’s “parentage clause,” which requires the President to be a “third-generation” Zambian; Scott’s parents were born in the United Kingdom.

Political observers, however, don’t see any immediate constitutional challenge unless Scott decides to run for elections as a presidential candidate in the stipulated 90 days. Many outside observers are saluting Zambia for the smooth transition of power and applauding Zambians for not using the color of one’s skin as a criteria for its leadership succession.

SEE ALSO: Chaos Is Order: The Importance of Informal Politics 

Last Edited by:Abena Agyeman-Fisher Updated: June 19, 2018

Conversations

Must Read

Connect with us

Join our Mailing List to Receive Updates

Face2face Africa | Afrobeatz+ | BlackStars

Keep Up With Global Black News and Events

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox, plus our curated weekly brief with top stories across our platforms.

No, Thank You