Africa Gets White Head Of State In Zambia.

Following the death of Zambian President , officials are making his vice-president Africa’s first white head of state in decades.

Sata, 77, died Tuesday while undergoing treatment in London’s private King Edward VII hospital for an unspecified illness, the Zambian government said.

Vice-President Guy Scott, 70, was named interim leader  making him the first white president of an African nation since FW de Klerk ruled apartheid South Africa more than 20 years ago.

Scott, whose parents were from Scotland, is not eligible to stand in the upcoming presidential election which must be held within the next 90 days  because of a rule in Zambia’s 1996 constitution barring heads of state with foreign parents.

“Dr Scott will act as president of the Republic of Zambia until the country goes for a presidential by-election” said Defence Minister Edgar Lungu.

Scott issued a statement confirming his temporary promotion and the 90-day period for the elections.

He added that national mourning for Sata would began on Wednesday. “We will miss our beloved president and comrade,” he said,