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Zambian Officials Call for Acting President’s Ouster, Sharpening Power Struggle Zambian Officials Call for Acting President’s Ouster, Sharpening Power Struggle
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — In a deepening crisis that has raised questions about his country’s political future, Guy Scott, the acting president of Zambia and Africa’s only white leader, is fighting a revolt within his cabinet ahead of elections next month. LONDON — In a deepening crisis that has raised questions about his country’s political future, Guy Scott, the acting president of Zambia and Africa’s only white leader, is fighting a revolt within his cabinet before elections next month.
Mr. Scott assumed the interim presidency after former President Michael Sata died in October, and he has confronted a struggle for power in recent weeks in the governing Patriotic Front. The dispute sharpened on Wednesday when the foreign minister, Harry Kalaba, called on Mr. Scott to resign. Out of 17 cabinet ministers, news reports said, Mr. Kalaba is among 14 calling for the ouster of Mr. Scott, who is seeking to oversee a transition to elections on Jan. 20. Mr. Scott assumed the interim presidency after former President Michael Sata died in October, and he has confronted a struggle for power in recent weeks in the governing Patriotic Front. The dispute sharpened on Wednesday when the foreign minister, Harry Kalaba, called on Mr. Scott to resign. Mr. Kalaba is among 14 out of 17 cabinet ministers calling for the ouster of Mr. Scott, who is seeking to oversee a transition to elections on Jan. 20, news reports said.
In response, Mr. Scott refused to quit, saying in a statement quoted by Reuters: “I will not be blackmailed to allow the illegal use of government resources for partisan interests. I will abide by the law.”In response, Mr. Scott refused to quit, saying in a statement quoted by Reuters: “I will not be blackmailed to allow the illegal use of government resources for partisan interests. I will abide by the law.”
He accused his adversaries of trying to hold an unlawful cabinet meeting, representing a “serious act of treason,” and insisted that he would remain in office to ensure a smooth transfer of power.He accused his adversaries of trying to hold an unlawful cabinet meeting, representing a “serious act of treason,” and insisted that he would remain in office to ensure a smooth transfer of power.
Mr. Scott — a Zambian citizen and former farmer who, as Mr. Sata’s deputy in the Patriotic Front, was the country’s vice president — is not permitted to run in next month’s elections because his parents were born outside the country. A faction loyal to him, however, is supporting Miles Sampa, a nephew of Mr. Sata’s, as its candidate for January. Mr. Scott — a Zambian citizen and former farmer who, as Mr. Sata’s deputy in the Patriotic Front, was the country’s vice president — is not permitted to run in next month’s elections because his parents were born outside the country. A faction loyal to him, however, is supporting Miles Sampa, a nephew of Mr. Sata’s, as its candidate.
An opposing group has coalesced around the defense minister, Edgar Lungu. The two sides have made rival claims to represent the Patriotic Front as the legitimate successor to Mr. Sata. An opposing group has coalesced around the defense minister, Edgar Lungu. The two sides have made rival claims to represent the Patriotic Front.
News reports said the Zambian High Court, which earlier ruled in favor of Mr. Lungu, was to meet on Thursday to consider Mr. Sampa’s claim to be the Patriotic Front’s lawful presidential contender.News reports said the Zambian High Court, which earlier ruled in favor of Mr. Lungu, was to meet on Thursday to consider Mr. Sampa’s claim to be the Patriotic Front’s lawful presidential contender.
The increasingly tense standoff in Zambia, a landlocked, copper-rich nation, has contributed to a sense of regional turmoil in recent weeks as President Robert G. Mugabe of neighboring Zimbabwe purged his party and elevated his wife, Grace Mugabe, to high office. Mr. Mugabe, 90, Africa’s autocratic oldest statesman, also replaced his former vice president, Joice Mujuru, with Emmerson Mnangagwa, a longtime aide with a tough-guy reputation and close ties to the security and intelligence elite.The increasingly tense standoff in Zambia, a landlocked, copper-rich nation, has contributed to a sense of regional turmoil in recent weeks as President Robert G. Mugabe of neighboring Zimbabwe purged his party and elevated his wife, Grace Mugabe, to high office. Mr. Mugabe, 90, Africa’s autocratic oldest statesman, also replaced his former vice president, Joice Mujuru, with Emmerson Mnangagwa, a longtime aide with a tough-guy reputation and close ties to the security and intelligence elite.
Zambian newspapers have reported that Mr. Lungu and Mr. Kalaba traveled to Harare, the Zimbabwean capital, last week to brief Mr. Mugabe on the crisis in their own country. Mr. Kalaba denied that they had been seeking financial support.Zambian newspapers have reported that Mr. Lungu and Mr. Kalaba traveled to Harare, the Zimbabwean capital, last week to brief Mr. Mugabe on the crisis in their own country. Mr. Kalaba denied that they had been seeking financial support.
Mr. Mugabe wields broader influence because he is currently the chairman of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community, the region’s main economic and political bloc.Mr. Mugabe wields broader influence because he is currently the chairman of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community, the region’s main economic and political bloc.
The divisions in the Patriotic Front in Zambia have emboldened opposition politicians, who say the split has weakened the party’s grip on power, raising the prospect of further uncertainty in a nation once known for relative stability and tranquillity.The divisions in the Patriotic Front in Zambia have emboldened opposition politicians, who say the split has weakened the party’s grip on power, raising the prospect of further uncertainty in a nation once known for relative stability and tranquillity.