Guy Scott, Africa’s Former White Head Of State, Dies At 82

Former Zambian Vice President Guy Scott, who briefly served as the country’s acting president in 2014 and became Africa’s only white head of state since the end of apartheid, has died at the age of 82.

The Zambian government said Scott died on Wednesday at his farm in Lusaka after a short illness. The announcement was made by Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa.

An economist born in Zambia to Scottish parents, Scott served as vice president from 2011 to 2014 under late President Michael Sata. He assumed the role of acting president following Sata’s death, serving for nearly three months.

Scott was constitutionally barred from contesting the presidency because his parents were not Zambian by birth. He was succeeded by Edgar Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021.

His death comes weeks before Zambia’s next general election.