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Zambia’s new President Lungu axes veep

Monday, 26 January 2015 6:27 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 26 January 2015 6:27 PM ]

Zambia’s newly-elected President Edgar Lungu (L) and former acting President Guy Scott (file photo)

Zambia’s newly-elected President Edgar Lungu has shown the door to his second-in-command and former interim head of state, Guy Scott.

Lungu, who was named the winner of the country’s presidential election only on Saturday, relieved Scott, a white Zambian of Scottish decent, of his duties as vice president when announcing his cabinet on Monday.

Scott filled in following the death of the country’s former head of state, Michael Sata, in October.

He was replaced by Inonge Wina, a former gender minister and chairwoman of the ruling Patriotic Front.

Scott had sacked Lungu from his position as party general secretary during a power struggle after Sata’s death, but later reinstated him after rioting by supporters.

Scott was unable to run in the presidential election because his parents are Scottish and not Zambian. He had been the country’s first white president since its independence from Britain in 1964.

Lungu won a cutthroat race against opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, during the January 20 polls.

Hichilema, who fell fewer than 28,000 votes shorter than Lungu, has cried foul, saying, “A stolen election does not reflect the will of the people and is not going to deliver.”

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