Guy Scott, who served as Zambia’s Vice President and briefly as acting President, passed away at the age of 82. His death occurred at his farm located in the Leopards Hill area of Lusaka, following an illness. The Zambian government confirmed the news on Wednesday, highlighting his significant role in the country’s political history.
Scott’s political career was marked by a historic milestone in 2014 when he became Africa’s first white head of state in over twenty years. This occurred after the death of President Michael Sata, under whom Scott had served as Vice President from 2011 until 2014. Scott assumed the acting presidency from October 2014 until January 2015, a period that drew international attention due to its rarity on the continent since the end of South Africa’s FW de Klerk presidency in 1994.
Born in Zambia to Scottish parents, Scott was a Cambridge-educated economist who dedicated much of his life to public service in Zambia. Despite his prominent role, he was constitutionally barred from running in the subsequent presidential election because the Zambian constitution requires that both parents of a presidential candidate be Zambian-born. This legal stipulation prevented him from seeking a full term as president.
In recognition of his contributions to the nation, President Hakainde Hichilema has authorized a state funeral to honor Guy Scott. His passing marks the end of a notable chapter in Zambia’s political landscape, remembered for breaking racial barriers and his commitment to the country’s governance.
