Zambia’s President Scott suspended as ruling party leader

Zambia’s ruling Patriotic Front on Friday said it had suspended President Guy Scott as acting head of the party.

Malozo Sichone, a PF Central Committee member, said on Friday in Lusaka that the central committee of the PF had decided to suspend Scott as acting president of the party for unconstitutional conduct and for abrogating the party constitution.

Sichone said the PF was divided over the contest to replace Scott with supporters of frontrunner Edgar Lungu.

He said the 53-member central committee should pick the party’s candidate.

Sichone said Scott wanted a vote by a general conference, made up of thousands of delegates and he was therefore suspended for the unconstitutional conduct and a bitter power struggle ahead of a January election.

Scott had been due to meet the central committee this week to decide on the selection process.

Questions about the stability in Zambia arose when Scott fired Lungu as PF Secretary-General on November 3 without explaining why.

He reinstated him a day later after Lungu’s dismissal triggered street protests.

Sata, who was nicknamed “King Cobra” because of his sharp tongue, died in a London hospital from an undisclosed illness last month at the age of 77.

Sata’s son, Mulenga Sata, who is the mayor of Lusaka, and his widow, Christine Kaseba, are among 10 candidates who have said they will run for the PF presidential ticket.

Reuters/NAN.