Maravi

Guy Scott explains his appointment to BBC

Guy Scott explains his appointment to BBC
By Kombe Chimpinde
Fri 07 Oct. 2011, 14:40 CAT

Dr Guy Scott yesterday told the British Broadcasting Corporation that his appointment as the first white Vice-President was accepted because Zambia was a mature democracy. Featuring on BBC's World Have Your Say programme, Dr Scott who is Zambia's new Vice-President noted that his rare appointment had made headlines in so many Western countries in view of his race.

"It is nonetheless proof because I haven't met anyone trying to shoot me. It was a very popular appointment," Vice-President Scott, who is also Lusaka Central member of parliament, said.

Scott however said it would be wrong to say that the development was a new wave of change in Southern Africa as Zambia could not be compared to other states in the region.

"I heard from Lebanese friends, who have come from Lebanon that the same news about me being Vice-President in Zambia is grabbing headlines in Beirut. Certainly, the spirit of change is at the end of this," Vice-President Scott said.

"Zambians are more cosmopolitan as they are regarding themselves as the rest of the world and not some poor section of the African population."

He said Zambians were very enlightened and embraced the spirit of globalisation which had stirred up demands for change in a progressive light.

"People need jobs. Also there are no jobs, so Zambians realise without a change there is still going to be no jobs for their children. So the present hope to change is to demand change and they welcome it when it comes," he said.

Quizzed on the current impasse in South Africa between the ANC party leadership and its youth wing who seems to regard race as so much an issue in that country, Vice-President Scott said South Africa could not be compared to Zambia as it was a young democracy.

"South Africa is a newcomer to independence or to multi-racial societies. South Africa is a baby compared to Zambia. Zambia is 47 years as an independent country and also has a white population that is considerably small," Vice-President Scott said.

Scott however refused to comment on the predicament in neighbouring Zimbabwe where land was being grabbed from most white farmers who were earlier titled with huge tracts of land.

"I am very reluctant to comment on that as a senior member of the government. We don't discuss politics amongst our neighbours, " Vice-President Scott said.

Vice-President Scott is a Zambian by birth born in Livingstone.

Labels: BBC, GUY SCOTT

posted by MrK @ 3:33 AM