Michael Sata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Sata
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| 5th President of Zambia | |
| In office 23 September 2011 – 28 October 2014 |
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| Vice President | Guy Scott |
| Preceded by | Rupiah Banda |
| Succeeded by | Guy Scott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 July 1937 Mpika, Awemba North, Northern Rhodesia |
| Died | 28 October 2014 (aged 77) London, England, U.K. |
| Resting place | Embassy Park, Lusaka 15°25′19″S 28°18′34″E / 15.421884°S 28.309314°E |
| Nationality | Zambian |
| Political party | Patriotic Front (2001–2014) MMD (1991–2001) UNIP (Before 1991) |
| Spouses | Margaret Manda (?–?) Christine Kaseba (?–2014; his death) |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Police officer and trade unionist |
| Nickname(s) | King Cobra |
Michael Charles Chilufya Sata (born 6 July 1937 – died 28 October 2014) was a Zambian politician. He served as the fifth president of Zambia. His time as president was from 23 September 2011 until his death in 2014.
Sata was a social democrat. He led the Patriotic Front (PF) political party. In the 1990s, he was a minister under President Frederick Chiluba. He was part of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government. In 2001, he left the MMD and started the PF. As an opposition leader, Sata was known as "King Cobra". He became a main challenger for the presidency. He ran in the 2006 election but lost. After President Levy Mwanawasa died, Sata ran again in 2008. He lost to President Rupiah Banda.
After ten years in opposition, Sata won the September 2011 presidential election. He defeated the current president, Rupiah Banda. Michael Sata died in London on 28 October 2014. His Vice President, Guy Scott, became Acting President. A new election was held on 20 January 2015.
Contents
Growing Up in Zambia
Michael Charles Chilufya Sata was born on 6 July 1937. He grew up in Mpika, in Zambia's Northern Province. Before Zambia became independent, he worked in different jobs. He was a police officer, a railway worker, and a trade unionist. He even spent some time in London, working on the railway. He was a porter at Victoria railway station.
Sata started getting involved in politics in 1963. This was before Zambia became independent from Northern Rhodesia. After independence, he joined the United National Independence Party (UNIP). He worked his way up in the party. In 1985, he became the governor of Lusaka. As governor, he was known for taking action. He helped clean up the city and fix roads. Later, he became a member of parliament for the Kabwata area in Lusaka.
He was once close to President Kenneth Kaunda. However, he disagreed with Kaunda's leadership style. So, he left the UNIP. He joined the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in 1991. This party was campaigning for a multi-party political system.
Family Life
Michael Sata's first wife was Margaret Manda. Later, he married his second wife, Christine Kaseba. She became the First Lady of Zambia when he was president. Michael Sata had eight children.
In 2016, Christine Kaseba, his widow, denied claims by another woman. This woman said she had also been married to Michael Sata.
Early Political Career
After Frederick Chiluba won the election in 1991, Sata became a well-known figure in Zambia. As part of the MMD government, he held several important roles. He served as minister for local government, labor, and briefly, health. He said his changes helped improve the health system. In 1995, he was made minister without portfolio. This meant he had a special role as the party's national organizing secretary.
Starting the Patriotic Front
In 2001, President Chiluba chose Levy Mwanawasa as the MMD's candidate for president. Sata was not happy with this decision. He left the MMD and started his own party, the Patriotic Front (PF). He ran in the 2001 election. However, his party only won one seat in parliament. Sata accepted the results and continued to campaign.
Presidential Elections
Sata ran for president again in the September 2006 election. He presented himself as a champion for poor people. He spoke out against Mwanawasa's economic policies. Sata sometimes made strong comments during his campaign. He accused Mwanawasa of "selling out" Zambia to foreign interests. He also said that Hong Kong was a country and Taiwan was a sovereign state. This led to China threatening to cut ties with Zambia if Sata won. Dr. Guy Scott was a key helper in Sata's campaign. Scott is a white Zambian politician. Former President Chiluba also publicly supported Sata.
Early results showed Sata in the lead. But as more votes were counted, Mwanawasa took the lead. Sata ended up in second place with about 29% of the vote. After the election, Sata faced some legal challenges. He said these were politically motivated.
In 2007, Sata was sent back from Malawi shortly after arriving. He said he was there to meet business people. His lawyer later started a lawsuit against the Malawian government.
Sata had a heart attack on 25 April 2008. He was taken to a hospital in South Africa. He later became friends with President Mwanawasa again in May 2008.
After Mwanawasa's Death
President Mwanawasa suffered a stroke and died in August 2008. Sata was chosen as the PF's candidate for the presidential election that followed. He said he was healthy despite his earlier heart attack.
Sata said he would not accept a win for Banda. He claimed the election was being rigged. Sata led in early vote counting, especially in cities. But as votes from rural areas were counted, Banda took the lead. Banda won with 40% of the vote, and Sata had 38%. Sata said he was not defeated and accused Banda of cheating.
Becoming President
Sata ran for President a fourth time in the election on 20 September 2011. He had previously spoken strongly against Chinese investments. But during this campaign, he softened his tone. The results showed he received about 43% of the vote. Banda received 36%. Chief Justice Ernest Sakala announced that Sata had won the election. He was sworn in on 23 September. His victory was mainly due to strong support in urban areas.
Presidential Policies
After becoming president, Sata promised foreign investors they were welcome in Zambia. Zambia is a big producer of copper. However, he said investors must improve working conditions for Zambian employees.
In 2008, he had said he would make foreign investors give at least 25% of their companies to Zambians. He also once said that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe had done nothing wrong. He believed that "imperialists" were calling Mugabe a villain.
Health and Passing Away
People became worried about Sata's health in 2014. Some thought he was too unwell to run the government. The government denied these claims. Sata stopped appearing in public, which was unusual for him. He seemed unwell when he opened parliament on 19 September. He did not appear in public for the next month.
On 19 October, he left Zambia for a medical check-up. He left Edgar Lungu, the Minister of Defense, in charge. Many believed Sata was very ill. This was because the trip was sudden, and he had been out of public view. Also, Zambia's 50th independence anniversary was only days away.
Sata died on 28 October in London. He was getting treatment for an illness that was not publicly shared. Cabinet Secretary Roland Msiska announced his death. Sata died at 11:00 PM at King Edward VII's Hospital. His wife, Christine Kaseba, his son, Mulenga, and other family members were with him. He was the second President of Zambia to die in office. Levy Mwanawasa had died just six years earlier in 2008. Vice-President Guy Scott became the acting leader until a new election. This made him the first white leader of a democratically elected government in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Reactions to His Death
In Zambia
Rupiah Banda, Sata's predecessor, spoke about Sata. He said Sata was "more than a public servant." He called him "a passionate competitor, a man of conviction and determination." Banda also said Sata was "a loving son, a husband, a father, and friend to me." He added, "Above all, Michael Sata was a Zambian, in body, soul, and spirit." Banda urged Zambians to unite during this time.
Mark Chona, a former assistant to Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, was very sad. He said Sata was "a very hard working and committed president and leader."
Around the World
The South African government released a statement. They said President Sata belonged to a generation of leaders from colonial times. They noted he bravely fought against colonial rule. They also mentioned Zambia's important role in ending colonialism and apartheid in Africa.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called Sata an "outstanding son of Africa." He said Sata had "unique, admirable abilities and strong values."
Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary of Britain (Zambia's former colonial power), also spoke. He said Sata "played a commanding role in the public life of his country over three decades...and finally as president."
Images for kids
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Michael Sata in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Michael Sata para niños
