Michael Sata: Portrait of a Populist

Sata was a giant figure in Zambia’s political landscape for over thirty years. Reginald Ntomba argues that ‘how Sata became president is as thought-provoking a story as what he did with the power he had spent decades fighting for’. He explores the political journey of Michael Sata from councillor to president of Zambia, relating Sata’s policies and approaches to theories of populism. In opposition Sata promised the electorate more money in their pockets. In power he tried to improve the lives of the poor and underprivileged, and to develop the country through huge infrastructure projects. But he incurred massive debts, ran a chaotic government and refused others in politics the freedoms he had enjoyed. His term in office was cut short by sickness and finally his death.