Zambian President
Michael Sata, who was
nicknamed “King
Cobra” for his fiery
tongue and larger-
than-life personality, has died, the country’s
national radio said
Wednesday morning. He was 77. Officials did not
disclose a cause of
death. But Sata had
traveled to London for
unspecified medical
treatment last week. He died in a hospital
there Tuesday evening,
the government-
owned Zambia Daily
Mail said. Sata took office in
September 2011 after
the incumbent
President tearfully
conceded in a televised
speech, a rare moment in a continent known
for volatile elections
and leaders fighting
their defeat tooth-and-
nail. Analysts hailed his
election as an example
of an African nation
with a vibrant
democracy. But not too
long after he took office, speculation
swirled over his lack of
visibility — which
especially stood out for
a man who loves the
spotlight. Aides said his absence
was a result of private
international visits,
and maintained those
trips had nothing to do
with medical treatment.
Sata was born in the
Zambian town of
Mpika in 1936, and
worked as police
officer during the
colonial administration. He
later trained as a pilot
in Russia before
returning home and
helping develop
housing projects in the nation. During Zambia’s
struggle for
independence from
Britain, he jumped into
politics, and later
founded the Patriotic Front — then an
opposition party. His
campaign events
electrified crowds
drawn to his
extroverted nature and fight for the average
man. Sata, who narrowly
lost to his predecessor
Rupiah Banda in 2008,
was a major critic of
Chinese investment in
the nation’s copper industry. He especially
targeted foreign
companies that
mistreat Zambian
workers, making him
popular among the nation’s miners who
accused the Chinese of
deplorable work
conditions. While in office, he
warned foreign
companies that while
their investment is
crucial to his nation,
they must abide by the labor laws. The veteran politician
has served in other
positions, including
city council, member of
parliament and cabinet
minister for local government. Before his election, the
tiny, copper-rich nation
in southern Africa had
been ruled by the same
party for decades