Zambia’s Guy Scott, Africa’s first white head of state in decades, dies at 82
7 reported1 unconfirmed
Guy Scott, the Zambian politician who briefly served as acting president and became Africa's first white head of state in more than two decades, has died at age 82, according to the Zambian government. Scott died Wednesday at his farm in the capital, Lusaka. He served as Zambia's vice president and stood in as president for three months when Michael Sata died in office in 2014. That made Scott the first white head of state in Africa since South Africa's F.W. de Klerk, who left office after the country's first all-race elections in 1994. The government stated that current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema had accorded Scott a state funeral, though the date was not yet announced. Scott, who had Scottish and English heritage, was first elected to Zambia's Parliament in 1991 and later served as minister of agriculture, food and fisheries before becoming vice president in 2011. He was the first white vice president of Zambia, and later its first white president, since independence from British colonial rule in 1964.
What’s reported
Guy Scott died Wednesday at age 82, according to the Zambian government.
He died at his farm in Lusaka, the capital.
Scott served as acting president of Zambia for three months after President Michael Sata died in office in 2014.
He was Africa's first white head of state since South Africa's F.W. de Klerk left office in 1994.
Scott was first elected to Zambia's Parliament in 1991 and later served as minister of agriculture, food and fisheries.
He became vice president in 2011 and was the first white vice president of Zambia since independence in 1964.
Current President Hakainde Hichilema has accorded Scott a state funeral, but the date has not been announced.
Open questions
The date of the state funeral has not been announced.
Key figures
Guy Scott, former acting president of Zambia
Michael Sata, former president of Zambia who died in office in 2014
F.W. de Klerk, former South African president
Hakainde Hichilema, current president of Zambia
Sources: abcnews.com
