In a shock move, the Zambian President Michael Sata last week dismissed one of his closest lieutenants and long-time confidante, the Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba (he had also been the General-Secretary of the governing Patriotic Front.) He was removed from both positions with immediate effect. No reasons were assigned. The statement was brief and said only that his cabinet appointment had been "revoked" and that he had been relieved of his party position too. Since he was only a nominated member it also means that he has lost his seat in parliament. Until it happened, few would have believed it possible that Mr. Sata would discard his long-time "fixer" so swiftly and thoroughly. The two men were close and historically it has been more usual for the president to spring to his defence. His dismissal is widely believed to be the fallout from behind the scenes jockeying for succession in the light of Mr. Sata's failing health. His pediatrician wife Christine Kaseba recently had to refute recent media reports that the president had gone into a coma. Officially, the president is "fit and working." In practice, he remains out of site and quiet, ensconced in State House. His condition or [...]
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