Zambia Appoints Africa's First Ever White Democratic President

Zambia reverted to white rule today, Wednesday, October 29th, when a Cambridge-educated economist became acting president of the country after the death of the incumbent. Guy Scott, previously vice-president, was promoted to the top job after the demise of Michael Sata on Tuesday. Mr Scott, 70, became the first white leader of an African country since FW de Klerk stepped down as president of South Africa in 1994 – and the first white head of a democratic government in Africa.

Mr Scott, who will serve for 90 days until a new election is held, told The Telegraph that his sudden promotion was "a bit of a shock to the system", but added: "I'm very proud to be entrusted with it."

Mr Sata, 77, died on Tuesday at the King Edward VII Hospital in West London. Until his death, the acting president of Zambia was Edga Lungu, the defence minister, but Mr Scott said he had stepped into the position, in accordance with the constitution.

"I am the acting president at the moment. It has just been passed by cabinet," he said. This made him Africa's first white president of a democratic government ever "except maybe the Venetians in the days when they ran the world," he added.

Mr Scott described this as a "bit of a shock to the system," adding: "Everyone is getting used to calling me 'Your Excellency', and I'm getting used to it. There are truckloads of guys following me on motorbikes. It's very strange."

Asked why he thought he had been chosen by the cabinet to be Zambia's interim leader, he pointed to his seniority within the party, in government, adding: "The president kept me as his vice-president despite a lot of efforts by people to get me taken down. And I happened to be there when he died."