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.