Michael Sata
Michael Charles Chilufya Sata (6 July 1937 – 28 October 2014) was a Zambian politician who was the fifth president of Zambia, from 23 September 2011 until his death on 28 October 2014. A social democrat, he led the Patriotic Front (PF), a major political party in Zambia. Under President Frederick Chiluba, Sata was a minister during the 1990s as part of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government. He went into opposition in 2001, forming the PF. As an opposition leader, Sata – popularly known as "King Cobra" – emerged as the leading opposition presidential contender and rival to President Levy Mwanawasa in the 2006 presidential election, but was defeated. Following Mwanawasa's death, Sata ran again and lost to President Rupiah Banda in 2008.
Michael Sata | |
|---|---|
| 5th President of Zambia | |
| In office 23 September 2011 – 28 October 2014 | |
| 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 15.421884°S 28.309314°E |
| Nationality | Zambian |
| Political party | Patriotic Front (2001–2014) MMD (1991–2001) UNIP (Before 1991) |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Manda (?–?) Christine Kaseba (?–2014; his death) |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Police officer and trade unionist |
| Nickname(s) | King Cobra |
After ten years in opposition, Sata defeated Banda, the incumbent, to win the September 2011 presidential election with a plurality of the vote. He died in London on 28 October 2014, leaving Vice President Guy Scott as Acting President until a presidential by-election was held on 20 January 2015.