Zambia is really taking a new direction. First, it had a peaceful election; and now this…

Apart from Zambia’s new President Michael Sata’s faux pax (his nomination of more members of parliament than are allowed by the constitution, which largely went unnoticed) it was the shocking, but not entirely unexpected, appointment of Vice President Guy Scott that has been creating a buzz online. Guy Scott is an indigenous white Zambian.

Why is this important? It shows that the days of blaming all economic and political problems on white Africans has become a thing of the past. No one (at least in Zambia) believes it any more. Black African leaders have to perform or step down. And if a white African can do a better job, then let him/her do it.

This kind of thinking was not possible in the postcolonial moment, as there was too much bitterness and resentment from the colonial moment. This bitterness and resentment was justified. White African rule was exceptionally painful for black Africans. But black African leaders proved to be as bad and sometimes worse than white African leaders. True, under black rule racial oppression was lifted, but economic oppression, which was once a major part of racial oppression, was increased considerably. Now what black Africans want is a leader who can lift the economic oppression. That person can be of any color. Zambia has left its postcolonial moment. Zimbabwe has not.

Charles Mudede—who writes about film, books, music, and his life in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, the USA, and the UK for The Stranger—was born near a steel plant in Kwe Kwe, Zimbabwe. He has no memory...

9 replies on “New Black Zambian President Selects White Vice President”

  1. Good Morning Charles,
    I couldn’t have more succinctly or accurately said that better myself. You are correct in your assessment. I agree post-colonialism lingers DEPENDING on the country. Zambia is a fine example of gingerly “getting-over-the-hump”. While Zimbabwe is not. I wish President Sata & VP Scott good luck.

  2. What I hope is that real investment from the West (not just charitable donations that can damage the local economy more than they help it) start flooding into Zambia, and they can achieve a stability that starts to spread to other nations around them. Instead of waging proxy wars against each other in DR Congo, maybe they can attack poverty and low development. Here’s hoping. I think they can do it.

  4. When does the “postcolonial” moment end for Zimbabwe, Mudede? Do all the white farmers need to killed/kicked out and their wives raped and *then* they can come back and be “part of the process”? Piss off. You’d still be picking ticks off your ass in the bush if it wasn’t for “colonialism”.

  5. I hope this means in the next election in neighboring South Africa Helen Zille and the DA party have a shot. The ANC is not completely corrupt but I think a healthy opposition winning at least one term will only do the ANC, and the country, a world of good overall.

    Zille has been great as mayor of Cape Town and maybe being the first woman and first Jewish president would help erase any (mislaid) sense among swing voters that a vote for a white president is harkening back to Apartheid/Afrikaaner rule.

    Any thoughts Charles?

  7. @Charles: I agree! Zuma has been better than I expected too.

    Makes sense the new Zambia VP was formerly Secretary of Agriculture. I have read that Zambia has brought in farming expertise from Zimbabwe the last ten years, with success overall: both black agricultural workers and displaced white farmers.

  9. @6, Mbeki was horrible. His position on AIDS/HIV! Good lord. But sometimes you have to wade through the horrible before you can get to the halfway-acceptable and maybe the good someday.

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