2014-10-29 14:00:00

Zambian President Dies, Vice President Guy Scott to Act


Zambia is mourning the death of president Michael Chilufya Sata, who died in a London hospital on Tuesday, 28 October. He had been ill for some time and left the country on 20th October for medical checkup in London. His death comes just days after the country united around acting president Edgar Lungu to celebrate the Golden jubilee of Zambia’s independence. Defense Minister Edgar Lungu was appointed acting President before Sata left for London.

Secretary to the cabinet, Dr. Roland Msiska officially broke the news to the nation on Wednesday morning on state television.

Later cabinet office of the Zambian government circulated the following statement.

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29TH OCTOBER 2014

FELLOW COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, HIS EXCELLENCY MR. MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA HAS BEEN RECEIVING MEDICAL ATTENTION IN LONDON, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

HE LEFT ZAMBIA WITH THE FIRST LADY AND OTHER CLOSE MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY ON OCTOBER 20, 2014.

HOWEVER, IT IS WITH A VERY HEAVY HEART THAT I ADDRESS YOU TODAY, TO INFORM THE NATION THAT OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT AND LEADER, HIS EXCELLENCY, MR MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA HAS PASSED ON.

THE HEAD OF STATE PASSED ON, ON OCTOBER 28, 2014 IN LONDON AT 23:11 HOURS ZAMBIAN TIME AT KING EDWARD VII HOSPITAL BEAUMONT CENTRAL LONDON.

HIS SPOUSE, THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, DR CHRISTINE KASEBA-SATA, HIS SON HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF LUSAKA, MULENGA SATA AND OTHERS WERE PRESENT AT THE BEDSIDE AT THE TIME OF HIS PASSING ON.

PRESIDENT SATA WAS BORN ON JULY 6, 1937. MR. SATA BECAME THE FIFTH PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA ON SEPTEMBER 23 2011 AFTER A POPULAR POLL.

PRESIDENT SATA’S DEMISE IS DEEPLY REGRETTED.

DURING THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD, I URGE ALL OF YOU TO REMAIN CALM, UNITED AND PEACEFUL DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD.

THE NATION WILL BE KEPT INFORMED OF OTHER DETAILS REGARDING THE FUNERAL AND BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

GOD BLESS ZAMBIA

DR. ROLAND MSISKA

SECRETARY TO CABINET

 

 

Born on 6 July 1937 Michael Chilufya Sata worked  in a number of capacities under president Kenneth Kaunda in the United National Independence Party, UNIP, and president Frederick Chiluba as part of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, MMD, government. Sata went into opposition in 2001 when he formed the Patriotic Front party, PF.

As an opposition leader, Sata  worked hard to become the leading opposition presidential contender and rival to President Levy Mwanawasa in the 2006 presidential election. Although he was defeated, Sata tried to stand for the top job of the land following Mwanawasa's death in 2008. He again lost to President Rupiah Banda.

But Sata did not rest  and ten years in opposition finally produced results when he defeated incumbent president Rupiah Banda and won the September 2011 presidential election.

According to Reuters news agency, Zambian Vice President Guy Scott has been named the interim leader of Africa's second-largest copper producer. Scott, who is of Scottish descent, was born in 1944 in the Zambian town of Livingstone. His father, Alec Scott, moved there in 1927, while his mother, Grace, emigrated in 1940.

Scott completed his education in Southern Rhodesia, Zimbabwe,  and the United Kingdom at Cambridge University and the University of Sussex, where he obtained a degree in economics and a PhD in cognitive science respectively.

Defence minister Edigar Lungu who has been acting president since Sata went to London for medical treatment, on 20 October, 2014, said Zambia will hold a presidential election to choose a permanent successor to Sata within three months.

 

 








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