Former Zambian Vice President and former Acting President Guy Scott has died at the age of 82 following an illness, the Zambian government announced on Wednesday.
President Hakainde Hichilema has directed that Scott be accorded a state funeral in recognition of his service to the southern African nation.
Scott served as Zambia’s vice president under the late President Michael Sata from 2011 until Sata’s death in October 2014.
He subsequently assumed office as acting president and led the country until January 2015, becoming the first white head of state in mainland Africa in two decades following South Africa’s F.W. de Klerk.
Born in Livingstone in 1944 to Scottish parents, Scott studied economics at the University of Cambridge before entering politics.
Although he was acting president, Zambia’s Constitution prevented him from contesting the 2015 presidential election because neither of his parents was Zambian by birth.
He handed over power after Edgar Lungu won the election.
The government said Scott died at his farm in the Leopards Hill area of Lusaka.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
(The Whistler)