Africa’s first white president in 20 years asked to resign

Zambian Acting President, Guy Scott has been asked by the cabinet to resign or be fired. This follows the demands by 14 Cabinet Ministers who passed a vote of no confidence in Dr Scott and demanded for his removal.

“We urge Scott to immediately resign from his position as acting republican president on moral grounds,” Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba said as he read out a statement signed by 14 cabinet members.

He said “As cabinet ministers, we have decided to express a clear vote of no confidence in his leadership and his ability to carry out the remaining duration of the transition,” Kalaba said. “There is need for cabinet to convene with due immediacy to discuss the replacement of Scott as acting president.”

Scott rejected the call as unconstitutional saying he was the only one mandated to call a cabinet meeting and "any other meeting purporting to be a cabinet meeting constitutes a serious act of treason".

The public exchange between the acting president and his cabinet brought simmering faction fighting within the ruling party to boiling point ahead of presidential elections next month.

 A power struggle in the ruling Patriotic Front over who replaces the late President Micheal Sata who died in October culminated in Scott being removed as the party’s vice president late Wednesday.

The PF has split into groups backing Justice and Defense Minister Edgar Lungu as the party’s leader and another preferring Miles Sampa, the deputy commerce minister. Sampa has challenged Lungu’s nomination, with the Supreme Court on Dec. 15 referring the case back to the Lusaka High Court, where a hearing is set for tomorrow.

Scott isn’t contesting for presidential vote.

Picture Credit:AFP