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Michael Charles Chilufya Sata (6 July 1937 – 28 October 2014) was a Zambian politician who served as the fifth president of Zambia from 2011 until his death in 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 "The 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 in 2008, losing to Rupiah Banda.
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.
In 2016, Sata's widow, Christine Kaseba, denied claims by another woman that she too had also been married to Michael Sata as well as herself.
Michael Sata had a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Atlantic International University, an unaccredited distance learning university in Honolulu, Hawaii, that has widely been described as a Diploma mill.
In 1995, he was appointed minister without portfolio, the party's national organising secretary during which his political style was described as "increasingly abrasive".
Initial results from the election gave Sata the lead, but further results put Mwanawasa in first place and pushed Sata into third place. "Zambian President Takes Election Lead, Opposition Claims Irregularities" , Voice of America, 1 October 2006. Interim results released after votes from 120 of 150 constituencies were counted put Mwanawasa on just over 42% of the vote; Hakainde Hichilema had 28%; and the Michael Sata had slipped to 27%. When opposition supporters heard that Sata had slipped from first to third place, riots erupted in Lusaka. "Zambia vote count sparks violence", BBC News, 1 October 2006. On 2 October, the Zambian Electoral Commission announced that Mwanawasa had officially won the election; final results put Sata in second place with about 29% of the vote. "Poll victory for Zambia president", BBC News, 2 October 2006., Angus Reid.
Sata was arrested in early December 2006, accused of making a false declaration of his assets when applying to run for president in August, along with other charges. He was questioned by police and released on bail. If convicted, he could have received a prison sentence of least two years. "Zambia opposition leader arrested", BBC News, 5 December 2006. As a convict, he would also be unable to hold public office. Sata said the charges were politically motivated, and in court he pleaded not guilty to them.Peter Clottey, "Zambian Opposition Leader Pleads not Guilty to Charges", Voice of America, 7 December 2006. On 14 December, the charges were dropped on the grounds that the declaration of assets was not made under oath. "Zambian court quashes charges against Sata", AFP, 14 December 2006.
On 15 March 2007, Sata was deported from Malawi shortly after arrival. Sata said that he was only there to meet with the business community, and alleged that the Zambian government had effected the deportation by falsely claiming that Sata was in Malawi to assist that country's former president, Bakili Muluzi. The Zambian government denied this,Shapi Shacinda, "'Coup smear' blocks trip to Malawi", Reuters ( IOL), 17 March 2007. while the Malawian government gave no explanation for Sata's deportation. On 6 April, Sata's lawyer said that he had initiated a lawsuit against the Malawian government for violating his rights. "Malawi violated my rights, says party leader", AFP ( IOL), 6 April 2007.
After losing his passport in London in late 2007, Sata was issued another; however, on 10 November 2007, Minister of Home Affairs Ronnie Shikapwasha announced that Sata's passport was withdrawn temporarily because he had obtained the new passport without following the necessary procedures and proving that he needed a new passport. Shikapwasha said that an investigation would follow, that Sata had been interrogated, and that he could face arrest. "Zambia opposition leader's passport withdrawn" , AFP ( Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa), 11 November 2007.
Sata suffered a heart attack on 25 April 2008 and was evacuated to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was said to be in stable condition on 26 April. "Zambian opposition leader 'stable'", Sapa ( IOL), 26 April 2008. He reconciled with President Mwanawasa in May 2008. "Zambian opposition leader, first lady clash", AFP ( IOL), 25 August 2008.
Sata was unanimously chosen as the PF's candidate for the presidential by-election at a meeting of its Central Committee on 30 August 2008. Accepting the nomination, he expressed the need "to scrub this country and wash it"; he also said that he would refrain from campaigning until after Mwanawasa's funeral. "Zambia's biggest opposition picks candidates for presidential by-elections", Xinhua, 31 August 2008. Despite his April 2008 heart attack, Sata said that he was healthy and in good condition. "Sata demands polling date", Lusaka Times, 5 September 2008.
Sata said that he would not accept a victory for Banda because there was "no way MMD can win", and he alleged that the Electoral Commission and the police were working together to rig the election. "'There is no way MMD can win'", Sapa-AFP ( IOL), 30 October 2008. Although he held the lead in early vote counting, which reflected his strong support in urban areas, his lead grew smaller as votes from rural areas were counted. In the end, Banda overtook Sata, and final results on 2 November showed Banda with 40% of the vote against 38% for Sata. "Zambia: Banda sworn in, riots spread", Sapa-DPA ( IOL), 2 November 2008. Sata subsequently stated that he had not been defeated and accused Banda of fraud. "Sata: I have not lost this election", Sapa-DPA ( IOL), 4 November 2008.
During the 2006 election campaign he was reported to have said of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe that "Mugabe hasn't done anything wrong. It is the , the capitalist-roaders, who say he is a villain." "Long queues in tight Zambian poll", BBC News.
In 2008, he said that he would revoke licenses for foreign investors if they resisted his orders to give at least a 25% stake in their companies to Zambians. "Sata to help local investors" , News24.
At his inauguration as President of Zambia, Sata assured foreign investors that they were welcome in his country, Africa's biggest copper producer, but said they must improve conditions for their Zambian employees. "Zambia Swears in Opposition Leader as New President", VOA News, 25 September 2011.
On 19 October, he left the country for what was described as a medical check-up, leaving Edgar Lungu, the Minister of Defense, in charge of the country in his absence. "Zambian President Michael Sata goes for medical check-up", BBC News, 20 October 2014. "Party rivalries grow as Sata ails", Africa Confidential, volume 55, number 21, 24 October 2014. Given the circumstances, including the sudden nature of the trip, Sata's absence from public view and the fact that the fiftieth anniversary of Zambian independence was only days away, many believed that Sata was very seriously ill.
Sata died in the late evening of 28 October at the King Edward VII's Hospital in London. "Zambian President Michael Sata dies in London", BBC News – Africa, 29 October 2014. He was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. Cabinet Secretary Roland Msiska issued a statement that he died late in the day. "As you are aware the president was receiving medical attention in London. The head of state passed on 28 October. President Sata's demise is deeply regretted. The nation will be kept informed on burial arrangements." His wife, Christine Kaseba, and son Mulenga were with him at the time of his death. He is the second President of Zambia to die in office, after Levy Mwanawasa's death only six years earlier in 2008.
His death triggered a presidential by-election in 2015. Vice President Guy Scott, who was named acting president in the interim, was ineligible to run as neither of his parents were born in Zambia.
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Categories: 1937 Births, 2014 Deaths, Members Of The National Assembly Of Zambia, Movement For Multi-party Democracy Politicians, Patriotic Front Politicians, People From Mpika District, Zambian Roman Catholics, Presidents Of Zambia, United National Independence Party Politicians, Zambian Trade Unionists, Local Government Ministers Of Zambia, Labour And Social Security Ministers Of Zambia, Health Ministers Of Zambia, National Presidents Who Died In Office
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