Zambia's interim leader rejects cabinet's call for resignation

Zambia's acting President Guy Scott on Wednesday refused calls by a majority of cabinet members for him to step down ahead of a presidential election next month.

Scott's rejection came after 14 out of 20 cabinet ministers supported a vote of no confidence in Scott and asked him to resign on moral grounds.

"Following the death of our beloved President, His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, the subsequent transition has been led by Dr. Guy Scott, in a dangerous and haphazard manner without due regard to the peace, security, unity and stability that this country is renowned for," said Harry Kalaba, minister of foreign affairs, at a press briefing also attended by other ministers on Wednesday.

In response, Scott, a Cambridge-educated economist who took over as acting president following the death of President Michael Sata on Oct. 28, rebuffed the call in a statement, saying that there is no provision in the Zambian constitution for such a demand.

The latest events are a result of power struggles within the ruling Patriotic Party over the leadership, pitting a fraction loyal to Scott who has been disqualified from running for president because his parents were born aboard against the other supporting Defense and Justice Minister Edgar Lungu.

Earlier this month, Zambia's high court declared Lungu as the Patriotic Party's candidate for the Jan. 20 presidential election, but the fraction backing Scott elected economist Miles Sampa as its leader and took the matter to the supreme court, who sent the case back to the high court. A hearing of Sampa was expected on Thursday.

In the press conference, the foreign affairs minister said that the interim leader has taken numerous actions that endanger the peace, unity and security of the country, adding that he has persistently taken advice from known private individuals while disregarding established government institutions.

"As cabinet ministers, we have decided to express a clear Vote of No Confidence in his leadership and in his ability to carry out the remaining duration of the transition," he said.

"Clearly the confidence and trust we reposed in Dr. Scott was totally misplaced and he has since abused our trust and confidence repeatedly," he added.

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