Posted on 10/31/2014 4:39:15 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Sata, who was nicknamed "King Cobra" for his sharp tongue and brusque manner, died while undergoing treatment at London's King Edward VII hospital, the Zambian government said.
Under Zambian law, fresh elections must be held within the next 90 days. Vice President Scott, 70, whose parents hail from Scotland, is not eligible to stand because Zambia's 1996 constitution bars the election of heads of state with foreign parents...
The move makes Scott the first white president of an African nation since FW de Klerk ruled apartheid South Africa more than 20 years ago...
Sata was elected in 2011 to preside over his landlocked, southern African nation of 15 million people – a final triumph for a man who rose from sweeping London railway stations to stints as a policeman and then a trade unionist.
He rode to power largely capitalising on the resentment Zambians felt toward the Chinese resource firms active in the country, describing them as "infesters".
Once in office he proved to be an authoritarian populist who cracked down on political foes, the media and sometimes even allies, earning him the "King Cobra" moniker. But his admirers saw him as a no-nonsense man of action.
Rumours of him being seriously ill persisted during his final months in office. Frequent denials by the government – and legal action against those who claimed he was dying – did nothing to dispel them.
His government recently cracked down on political opponents and journalists who reported on his long-suspected illness and his frequent "working trips" abroad, apparently for medical treatment...
Even before Sata's death, analysts had said a power struggle for Zambia's top job was already well under way within the ruling Patriotic Front party.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
President Michael Sata died Tuesday at a London hospital at the age of 77, Zambian officials announced Wednesday. Vice President Guy Scott (pictured) took over as interim leader, becoming the first white head of state in Africa since apartheid. [AFP]
Sounds like Arabs are not considered “white” in Africa.
Will they EAT him or just SKEWER him??
They should keep him.
Zambia would become an African powerhouse.
Sounds like King Cobra was an Obommunist.
From reading the story it sounds like a potentially bloody power struggle among socialists is a likely result.
He’s articulate, clean-cut and can employ “honky” dialect if he needs to.
People were however upset about Obama. They said that after decades of seeing the US as a shining example of raising one's standards of living through hard work the US is suddenly teaching the opposite message, and they don't think that's good.
Arthur wasn't bad, so we have batted .250 with this bunch.
I hope this ‘minority’ president is better then the ‘minority’ president we have.
“Sounds like Arabs are not considered “white” in Africa.”
I’m not so sure they’re considered “white” here either. I’m just saying...
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