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Acting President Guy Scott, originally from Scotland, reverses decision to fire party’s secretary amid violence.
Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s ruling party’s secretary-general, has been reinstated after his dismissal triggered riots in the capital Lusaka.
The move on Tuesday came after police and demonstrators clashed in protests against acting president Guy Scott, who dismissed Lungu on Monday.
The riots started on Monday night in several places in Lusaka, including the University of Zambia and a government building designated as a place for Sata’s mourners to gather, according to witnesses.
Protesters had descended on the building, Belvedere Lodge, with stones, machetes and other weapons, and police fired tear gas into the venue to clear demonstrators from the area.
The protesters were angry over the decision by acting president Guy Scott to dismiss Edgar Lungu, the ruling party’s secretary-general.
Lungu, who remains defence and justice minister, said his dismissal was illegal and accused Scott, who is of Scottish descent, of “insulting our culture”.
Scott was appointed acting president following the death last week of President Michael Sata.
Under the constitution, Zambia must hold a presidential election within 90 days of a president’s death.
Former Vice President Scott has said he is not interested in running for president and is in any case barred from the office because his parents were not Zambian by birth or descent.
