ZAMBIA'S PRESIDENT GUY SCOTT SUSPENDED BY PATRIOTIC FRONT

According to BBC,Zambia's ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has suspended President Guy Scott as party leader amid a power struggle ahead of elections in January.

The party's central committee accused him of "unconstitutional conduct".But state radio later quoted the PF secretary-general as saying the decision was invalid, as only Mr Scott could call a meeting of the committee.
Mr Scott, who took over after President Michael Sata died last month, remains interim president until the poll.
He cannot become substantive president because his parents were born abroad.PF spokesman Malozo Sichone told the BBC that Mr Scott's suspension comes after party officials had spent weeks trying to meet the president to discuss the election and selection process."Since the president's death, it has become clear that Dr Scott has been following his own agenda," said Mr Sichone."He has been hiring and firing people for no apparent reason and without consulting the [party's] central committee," he said.
The party is divided over how its presidential candidate at the next election should be selected, with some calling for the 53-member central committee to choose.Mr Scott and other MPs want a vote by a general conference, made up of thousands of delegates.Mr Scott lost favour with many members of the party after he sacked presidential hopeful, Edgar Lungu from his post as PF secretary-general without any explanation.