Zambian President Michael Sata, who was nicknamed "King Cobra" for his fiery tongue and larger-than-life personality died yesterday aged 77. No reason has been given as to the cause of his death. But Sata was said to have travelled to London on unspecified medical grounds last week.
George Zulu, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said he received the news with shock. That despite the fact that he knew Sata was sick, he never thought the sickness will end in death.
Zambia's constitution requires fresh election to be called within 90 days. Ministers are meeting currently to discuss who to take over the reins of affairs in the interim
Edgar Lungu, the Defence Minister was acting as the Acting President before Sata left for his medical trip to London. Zulu said the Acting President was still in charge but waiting for cabinet announcement on the next action and also to discuss the eligibility of Vice President Guy Scott to take over. Scott is a white Zambian of Scottish descent. If he is named interim head, that will make him the first white head of state in Africa since apartheid.
Sata took over office in September 2011 after the incumbent President tearfully conceded in a televised speech, a rare moment in a continent known for volatile elections and leaders fighting their defeat tooth-and-nail.
Sata was born in the Zambian town of Mpika in 1936, and worked as police officer during the colonial administration. He later trained as a pilot in Russia before returning home and helping to develop housing projects in the nation. During Zambia's struggle for independence from Britain, he jumped into politics, and later founded the Patriotic Front, an opposition party.
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