Zambia's Guy Scott suspended as party leader
November 21, 2014
When Zambia's Vice President Guy Scott assumed office as acting president on October 29, it was clear that his time as Zambia's leader would only last a few months. After the death of Zambia's late president, Michael Sata, Scott stepped into Sata's footsteps and set general elections for January 20, 2015. Due to his Scottish decent, Scott will however not be able to run for presidency himself.
On Friday (21.11.2014) the Patriotic Front's (PF) central committee member Malozo Sichone announced the Scott's suspension as the party's leader "for unconstitutional conduct and for abrogating the party constitution." It is still unclear whether the PF's 53 member central committee or a general conference, which would include up to 1,000 party delegates should choose the party's next leader.
Rifts within the party
Scott's acting presidency prompted widespread international interest in him being Africa's first democratically elected white president. PF party members accused Scott of trying to influence the media's portrayal of himself. Lee Habasonda, a political analyst and president of Zambia's Transparency International chapter,believes that these allegations are merely a farce. "Guy Scott is not an interested party in the position of presidency," he told DW. Habasonda admits that Scott may try to paint a positive picture of himself in the press, but that he is only there for 90 days.
Scott's suspension represents a much deeper power struggle within the ruling party. Soon after his appointment as acting president, he suspended the party Secretary General Edgar Lungu from his position. Lungu is Zambia's Defense Minister and is seen as having some of the best chances in the bid to lead the party and run for presidency. He was reinstated as the PF's secretary general after protests broke out on Lusaka's streets.
Habasonda believes that Guy Scott's suspension has actually done more harm than good for the party – even to those behind the move. The suspension indicates that Scott was not willing to support their preferred presidential candidate. He could therefore use his influence to work against his opponents and support other candidates, explains Habasonda. Scott is still the interim president, he argues and "if they don't treat him well, he could make it impossible for them to access state resources." Habasonda believes that the party's infighting could even endanger PF's chances of winning the elections.
Clinging on to Sata's legacy?
After the death of Michael Sata, who was known as 'King Cobra' due to his sharp tongue, the ruling party has been experiencing a power vacuum. Aside form Lungu, several party members have voiced their ambitions to rule the country. Sata's widow, Christine Kaseba-Sata, as well as Sata's son Mulenga Sata, the mayor of Lusaka are among the many hopefuls. "The grief I feel is nothing compared to the pain that would result from the destruction of his party and abandonment of his ideals," Kaseba-Sata told the local Zambian newspaper the Post. Habasonda however believes that proximity to the late president will not be enough to put Sata's family in the ruling seat. “Zambia is a democracy and we tend to shy away from dynasties”, he explained.
The Patriotic Front came into power in 2011, after defeating Rupiah Banda's Movement for Multiparty Democracy. It is expected to announce who it will support as its presidential candidate in late November.