Signup to become a member and enjoy updates
Guy Scott
Guy Scott is a Zambian politician who served as acting President of Zambia from 2014 to 2015 and was Vice President from 2011 to 2014. He assumed the role of acting president following the death of Michael Sata on October 28, 2014, making him the first head of state of European descent in Africa since F. W. de Klerk in 1989, and the first to hold the position under a democratically elected government.
ZODIAC ELEMENTS
Ascendant:
Sun-Sign:
Moon-Sign:
GUY SCOTT
Guy Lindsay Scott was born on June 1, 1944, in Livingstone, Zambia, a city that was once the capital of Northern Rhodesia. He comes from a family with a rich history of public service; his father, Alec Scott, emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1927 to work on the railways under Cecil Rhodes, while his mother, Grace, arrived from England in 1940. His brother, Alexander "Sandy" Scott, is a respected scientist who received the Beverton Medal from the Fisheries Society of the British Isles in 2014 for his significant contributions to fisheries science. Growing up during a politically charged era, Scott was influenced by his father's involvement in politics as a member of parliament for the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which fueled his interest in national affairs and independence movements.
Scott completed his early education in what is now Zimbabwe, attending Springvale School and Peterhouse Boys' School, before pursuing higher education in England. He earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, in 1965. After returning to Zambia, he joined the newly independent government as a planner in the Ministry of Finance and served as deputy editor for a publication called The Business and Economy of East and Central Africa.
In 1970, Scott founded Walkover Estates, an agribusiness that specialized in high-value crops, including irrigated wheat and strawberries, which were sold in local supermarkets like Sainsbury's. Renowned for his approach to employment, he actively engaged with his workers by speaking the local language and hosting inclusive gatherings. Later, Scott continued his education at the University of Sussex, where he obtained a master's degree in cognitive sciences and artificial intelligence in 1983, followed by a doctorate in 1986. His academic pursuits also included studying robotics at Oxford University.
In 1990, Scott entered the political arena by joining the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), where he was elected chair of its Agriculture Committee. He won a seat in the National Assembly during the 1991 general election, becoming the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. During his tenure, he implemented vital policy reforms and managed the crisis of a severe drought in 1992, organizing the import of maize to alleviate food shortages. Despite his accomplishments, he was dismissed from his ministerial position in April 1993.
In 1996, Scott left the MMD to co-found the Lima Party, which later merged with other parties to form the Zambia Alliance for Progress. He reentered politics in 2001 with the Patriotic Front, winning a parliamentary seat for Lusaka Central in the 2006 elections. Following the presidential victory of Michael Sata in 2011, Scott was appointed Vice President of Zambia, making history as the first white Zambian leader since independence. He famously remarked on Zambia's shift from a post-colonial identity to a more cosmopolitan society.
After Sata's death in October 2014, Scott became the acting president of Zambia, serving in this capacity for a limited period as mandated by the constitution. Despite the constitutional requirements barring him from standing for election due to his parents' immigrant status, he took significant steps to address political challenges during his brief presidency. He notably dismissed and then reinstated Edgar Lungu as Secretary General of the Patriotic Front amidst public protests, and he chose not to run for the presidency in the subsequent election, which Lungu won in January 2015.
Following his term, Scott distanced himself from the Patriotic Front before the 2016 general elections. In 2019, he published a memoir titled Adventures in Zambian Politics: A Story in Black and White, sharing insights about Zambia's political landscape and his personal experiences. In 2021, he became affiliated with the United Party for National Development.
Scott married British-born doctor Charlotte Harland in 1994, and they reside in Lusaka. He has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but remains an influential figure in Zambian politics and society.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Scott
GOVERNING TIME LINE
Guy Scott assumed office as the acting President of Zambia on October 28, 2014, following the death of President Michael Sata. He served until January 24, 2015, when he stepped down to allow for new elections, as required by the constitution. Scott was succeeded by Edgar Lungu after the presidential election held on January 20, 2015.