Riots force Zambia’s new president to reinstate party chief

Zambia's first white president on Tuesday faced protests and accusations of not respecting Zambian culture after he fired the leader of the ruling party while the nation was still mourning the late president, Michael Sata.

Dozens of members of the Patriotic Front (PF) rioted in Lusaka overnight, burning tyres and threatening to break vehicles, witnesses said.

President Guy Scott then announced he was cancelling the sacking of Edgar Lungu, who also acted as defence and justice minister, from the post of PF secretary-general.

Sata had left Lungu as caretaker president when he travelled for medical treatment in London.

After he died, on October 28, his official deputy – Scott – was appointed as president.

Upon hearing about his sacking as PF leader, Lungu accused the new president of not respecting Zambian culture by taking such an important decision before Sata had even been buried. Sata's funeral is scheduled for November 11.

"President Sata deserves to be mourned with utmost dignity, peace and respect," Lungu said.

Scott is barred from running for president in elections due in three months' time because his parents were not Zambian by birth or descent.

Scott's short-lived presidency has divided opinions, with some Zambians saying they do not mind a white president and others arguing that Scott is taking them back to colonial times.

Zambia, formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, achieved independence from Britain in 1964. Its first president was Kenneth David Kaunda.

Source : Sapa-dpa /mr/aa