Guy Scott, a Zambian citizen of British descent, has died at the age of 82. Scott served as Zambia’s vice president from 2011-2014 and became the country’s interim president after the death of President Michael Sata.
Early Life and Career
Scott was born on June 1, 1944, in Livingstone, Zambia. He was educated at the University of Cambridge and later earned a doctorate in cognitive sciences at the University of Sussex. Scott worked as a farmer, journalist, and economist before entering politics.
As agriculture minister in 1992, Scott was credited with rescuing Zambia from a potential famine after a severe drought. He later became a close ally of President Michael Sata and served as his vice president.
Interim Presidency
After Sata’s death in 2014, Scott became Zambia’s interim president, serving for 90 days. His elevation to the top job drew challenges and outcries from political foes, who argued that Scott’s family roots in the colonial era disqualified him from leadership.
Scott was known for his blunt language and wisecracks. He once told Zambian reporters, ‘I may be white on the outside, but my blood is Black.’ Scott also developed a bantering relationship with Sata, which some people wrongly interpreted as driven by racial hostility.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
