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Zambia has appointed the first white head of state in Africa since the apartheid era, following the death of "Mr King Cobra" President Michael Sata. 
Vice-President Guy Scott, a white Zambian of Scottish descent, was appointed interim president of the southern African nation until elections are held within 90 days.
Sata, 77, died in London, where he had been receiving treatment for a long-rumoured but undisclosed illness.
Scott is the first white leader of an African nation since F.W. de Klerk, the last president of South Africa under apartheid, the white racist regime that ended in 1994.
Scott, a 70-year-old former agriculture minister, has said he has no presidential ambitions, and he cannot in any case become a fully empowered president because his parents were born outside Zambia, according to analysts.
Sata rose from cleaning railway platforms in London to his country's highest office, where he vowed to sweep away corruption but leaned on political foes.
To supporters he was a no-nonsense man of action. For critics, the former policeman, trade unionist and taxidermist was an authoritarian populist. What is not in dispute is that he seemed to revel in scorched earth politics.
Detractors, political foes, the media and even allies frequently came under attack from a man who earned the sobriquet "King Cobra". He once publicly upbraided the cabinet, threatening to destroy his own government if it did not do a better job.
The final period of Sata's rule saw a crackdown on political opponents and critical journalists.

Sata's surprise election victory, at the fourth time of asking, and a calm power transfer raised hopes things were looking up for his copper-rich but dirt-poor southern African nation.
He vowed to be a champion of the poor, unveiling a plan to transform the country within 90 days by tackling corruption, lowering taxes, creating jobs and scoring a better deal with what he once called Chinese "infestors". Though he softened his stance once in power.
China is the largest foreign investor in Zambia, Africa's biggest copper producer and a supplier of coal and other minerals. Though China is a major player in the former British colony, its presence is not universally appreciated. Miners have in the last few years complained about poor pay and working conditions in Chinese-run mines.
Born on July 6, 1937 in the then-British colony of Northern Rhodesia, Sata joined a seminary, with a view to joining the priesthood, according to Zambian historian Field Ruwe. But he instead joined the police.
Sata was later arrested. The reason is subject to some controversy - Sata claimed he was jailed for participating in the independence fight, while adversaries claim it was for a crime.
On his release he became involved in politics via the trade union movement, and eventually with the United National Independence Party.
Years as a party apparatchik earned the Catholic father of eight the governorship of the capital, Lusaka. He later served in several ministerial portfolios, but tensions with Kaunda saw him jump ship to the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, which he in turn left to form the breakaway Patriotic Front in 2001.
He was catapulted to the presidency amid frustration among those yet to benefit from a copper mining boom.
Agence France-Presse, Associated Press


Africa has first white head of state since apartheid era, in Zambia's Guy Scott

Vice-President Guy Scott is appointed interim president of Zambia until elections are held within 90 days. Photo: AFP

Sata started out tough on China

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Guy Scott appointed acting Zambian president pending elections to find successor to 'King Cobra' Michael Sata, who has died at age of 77


Zambia has appointed the first white head of state in Africa since the apartheid era, following the death of "Mr King Cobra" President Michael Sata.


Africa has first white head of state since apartheid era, in Zambia's Guy Scott

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Guy Scott appointed acting Zambian president pending elections to find successor to 'King Cobra' Michael Sata, who has died at age of 77

Guy Scott appointed acting Zambian president pending elections to find successor to 'King Cobra' Michael Sata, who has died at age of 77