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Zambia’s Acerbic Leader, Michael Sata, Dies at 77 Zambia’s Acerbic Leader, Michael Sata, Dies at 77
(35 minutes later)
Michael Sata, the president of Zambia, who once swept British railroad station platforms for a living and whose reputation for a sharp tongue and abrasive manner earned him the nickname “King Cobra,” died late Tuesday at a London hospital, the Zambian government announced on Wednesday. He was 77.Michael Sata, the president of Zambia, who once swept British railroad station platforms for a living and whose reputation for a sharp tongue and abrasive manner earned him the nickname “King Cobra,” died late Tuesday at a London hospital, the Zambian government announced on Wednesday. He was 77.
The cause of his death, after months of largely unchronicled illness, was not made public.The cause of his death, after months of largely unchronicled illness, was not made public.
The Zambian government, and Mr. Sata, himself, persistently denied suggestions that he had a terminal illness, even when he missed an appearance last month at the United Nations General Assembly in New York after reports that he had taken ill in his hotel room. The Zambian government, and Mr. Sata himself, persistently denied suggestions that he had a terminal illness, even when he missed an appearance last month at the United Nations General Assembly in New York after reports that he had taken ill in his hotel room.
Shortly before he left for New York, Mr. Sata mocked people who said he was sick. He was quoted as telling lawmakers at the opening of Parliament in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka , “I am not dead yet.” Shortly before he left for New York, Mr. Sata mocked people who said he was sick. He was quoted as telling lawmakers at the opening of Parliament in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, “I am not dead yet.”
Mr. Sata flew to London 10 days ago for what the authorities called a “medical checkup abroad,” without revealing his destination.Mr. Sata flew to London 10 days ago for what the authorities called a “medical checkup abroad,” without revealing his destination.
The government met in Lusaka on Wednesday and chose Vice President Guy Scott to act as interim head of state until an election can be held to replace Mr. Sata, according to the defense minister, Edgar Lungu. The election is to be held within 90 days.The government met in Lusaka on Wednesday and chose Vice President Guy Scott to act as interim head of state until an election can be held to replace Mr. Sata, according to the defense minister, Edgar Lungu. The election is to be held within 90 days.
Mr. Scott, who is white, becomes the first white leader of a sub-Saharan nation since F. W. de Klerk’s tenure as president of South Africa ended in May 1994. Mr. Scott is a former farmer and government minister.Mr. Scott, who is white, becomes the first white leader of a sub-Saharan nation since F. W. de Klerk’s tenure as president of South Africa ended in May 1994. Mr. Scott is a former farmer and government minister.
In a telephone interview, the interim head of state noted that Zambia had a similar transition of power in 2008 after President Levy Mwanawasa died of a stroke while in office. “The last time we had this, it went quite smoothly,” he said. “So it’s not impossible, and it can be done.”In a telephone interview, the interim head of state noted that Zambia had a similar transition of power in 2008 after President Levy Mwanawasa died of a stroke while in office. “The last time we had this, it went quite smoothly,” he said. “So it’s not impossible, and it can be done.”
Michael Chilufya Sata was born on July 6, 1937, in Mpika, in the north of the country, which was then under British rule and known as Northern Rhodesia. He had scant formal education, and at one point joined a seminary intending to become a priest, according to a Zambian historian, Field Ruwe, quoted by Agence France-Presse.Michael Chilufya Sata was born on July 6, 1937, in Mpika, in the north of the country, which was then under British rule and known as Northern Rhodesia. He had scant formal education, and at one point joined a seminary intending to become a priest, according to a Zambian historian, Field Ruwe, quoted by Agence France-Presse.
Instead he became a police officer, and at one point spent time in London, working as a sweeper and porter at a railroad station. On his return home, he entered politics, beginning in the labor movement. He rose to become governor of Lusaka and worked closely under two former presidents, Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba, before joining the opposition in 2001.Instead he became a police officer, and at one point spent time in London, working as a sweeper and porter at a railroad station. On his return home, he entered politics, beginning in the labor movement. He rose to become governor of Lusaka and worked closely under two former presidents, Kenneth Kaunda and Frederick Chiluba, before joining the opposition in 2001.
After losing three election bids, the gravel-voiced Mr. Sata finally took office in 2011, describing himself as a “man of action” who had tilted against the growing influence of Chinese investors in the economy of Zambia, a landlocked, sparsely populated nation largely dependent on its copper mining industry. The handover of power from the incumbent he defeated was notably smooth and peaceful.After losing three election bids, the gravel-voiced Mr. Sata finally took office in 2011, describing himself as a “man of action” who had tilted against the growing influence of Chinese investors in the economy of Zambia, a landlocked, sparsely populated nation largely dependent on its copper mining industry. The handover of power from the incumbent he defeated was notably smooth and peaceful.
As a candidate, Mr. Sata had run on an explicit promise to protect workers from exploitation by China, and tapped into the nation’s divide between rich and poor, pledging to share Zambia’s wealth.As a candidate, Mr. Sata had run on an explicit promise to protect workers from exploitation by China, and tapped into the nation’s divide between rich and poor, pledging to share Zambia’s wealth.
When two Chinese supervisors at a coal mine shot 13 workers protesting over wages in 2010, the episode bolstered Mr. Sata’s campaign. The Zambian government initially indicated that the Chinese managers would be punished, but the charges were quietly dropped. Mr. Sata, an opposition leader at the time, denounced the spilling of “innocent blood” by “merciless so-called investors.”When two Chinese supervisors at a coal mine shot 13 workers protesting over wages in 2010, the episode bolstered Mr. Sata’s campaign. The Zambian government initially indicated that the Chinese managers would be punished, but the charges were quietly dropped. Mr. Sata, an opposition leader at the time, denounced the spilling of “innocent blood” by “merciless so-called investors.”
Such was Mr. Sata’s willingness to talk bluntly, even after winning office, that when a senior aide apologized for remarks that offended the leadership in South Africa, he said, “You cannot be diplomatic all the time.”Such was Mr. Sata’s willingness to talk bluntly, even after winning office, that when a senior aide apologized for remarks that offended the leadership in South Africa, he said, “You cannot be diplomatic all the time.”
Mr. Sata acquired a reputation for intolerance for political challengers. This year, for instance, an opposition leader, Frank Bwalya, faced defamation charges after likening Mr. Sata to a kind of potato used in local slang to denote a person who does not listen to others. Mr. Sata acquired a reputation for intolerance to political challengers. This year, for instance, an opposition leader, Frank Bwalya, faced defamation charges after likening Mr. Sata to a kind of potato that in local slang denotes a person who does not listen to others.
But his style seemed far less despotic than that of some other African leaders, including President Robert G. Mugabe in neighboring Zimbabwe, with whom he cultivated friendly relations. Though at times Mr. Sata praised Mr. Mugabe’s anti-white policies, he nonetheless worked closely with Mr. Scott while in the opposition and chose him as his vice president. But Mr. Sata’s style seemed far less despotic than that of some other African leaders, including President Robert G. Mugabe in neighboring Zimbabwe, with whom he cultivated friendly relations. Though at times Mr. Sata praised Mr. Mugabe’s anti-white policies, he nonetheless worked closely with Mr. Scott while in the opposition and chose him as his vice president.
Mr. Sata died at the private King Edward VII hospital in London. His wife, Christine Kaseba, and his son, Mulenga Sata, were at his bedside, according to Roland Msiska, the cabinet secretary in Lusaka.Mr. Sata died at the private King Edward VII hospital in London. His wife, Christine Kaseba, and his son, Mulenga Sata, were at his bedside, according to Roland Msiska, the cabinet secretary in Lusaka.
The president’s absence from Lusaka meant that he missed a milestone of Zambia’s history: the celebration last week of 50 years of independence from Britain.The president’s absence from Lusaka meant that he missed a milestone of Zambia’s history: the celebration last week of 50 years of independence from Britain.
Zambia has an enviable track record in sub-Saharan Africa, suffering little of the ethnic strife or political chaos that has plagued some of its neighbors, like the Democratic Republic of Congo or Mozambique.Zambia has an enviable track record in sub-Saharan Africa, suffering little of the ethnic strife or political chaos that has plagued some of its neighbors, like the Democratic Republic of Congo or Mozambique.
Several government ministers began jockeying to take over after Mr. Sata’s illness was reported, but few Zambians fear the outbreak of a violent succession battle.Several government ministers began jockeying to take over after Mr. Sata’s illness was reported, but few Zambians fear the outbreak of a violent succession battle.
Mr. Scott, the acting head of state, is prohibited by the Constitution from becoming the permanent president, his critics say, because his parents were not born in Zambia.Mr. Scott, the acting head of state, is prohibited by the Constitution from becoming the permanent president, his critics say, because his parents were not born in Zambia.