Zambia's Guy Scott became Africa's first white head of state
in 20 years on Wednesday after the president, "King Cobra" Michael
Sata, died in a London hospital aged 77.
Scott, a Cambridge-educated economist born in Zambia to
Scottish parents, had been Sata's vice president. He will be interim leader
until an election in three months, making him the first white African leader
since South Africa's F.W. de Klerk lost to Nelson Mandela in the 1994 election
that ended apartheid.
Scott, 70, is ineligible to run in a presidential election
because his parents were not born in Zambia, leaving defence minister Edgar
Lungu and finance minister Alexander Chikwanda the most likely contenders for
the ruling Patriotic Front party's ticket, analysts say.
"Elections for the office of president will take place
within 90 days. In the interim I am acting president," Scott said in a
brief televised address. "The period of national mourning will start
today. We will miss our beloved president and comrade."
Many Zambians welcomed his interim appointment.
Reuters
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