Dr Scott, I presume?

Zambia’s new, white vice president on understanding Mugabe and standing up to China

Lusaka, Zambia

Zambia’s new vice president, Dr Guy Scott, sinks into the back seat of his armoured car. Motorbike outriders clear the traffic ahead of us as we glide through the capital. ‘I am enjoying the toys, I must say.’ He means the helicopter and the two motorcades — one for the city, another for the bush.

There were two remarkable aspects to last October’s election, in which the Patriotic Front party was voted in, ending the former government’s 20-year rule. The first was the peaceful nature of the regime change. The other was the colour of Dr Scott’s skin. It is the first time in independent Africa (Zambia gained its independence in 1964) that a white man has occupied such a high office. Recently George W. Bush passed through on a visit. ‘When they introduced me as vice president, he thought they were kidding.