PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says former vice-president Dr Guy Scott began working with the UPND government when he realised that the PF was driving the economy in the wrong direction. Meanwhile, President Hichilema says the UPND government amended the Constitution to allow former vice-presidents to be given retirement benefits, stating that it was unfair for them […]

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says former vice-president Dr Guy Scott began working with the UPND government when he realised that the PF was driving the economy in the wrong direction.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema says the UPND government amended the Constitution to allow former vice-presidents to be given retirement benefits, stating that it was unfair for them not to be cared for after office.

Speaking during the funeral of Dr Scott, Monday, President Hichilema said the former vice-president did not agree with the PF’s economic choices, leading to the two working together.

“Guy knew that this road, this direction people are walking to, even if it looked glamorous, is a wrong direction to go. I’m saying it in simple words. Because he understood that the way things were going in the country, economically, we would crash, early on, before many citizens understood that, that gravity of borrowing excessively, of consumption habits outweighing investment habits in the country, would lead the country to a crash, and we did crash. Guy knew that much earlier than even colleagues of his that worked around him, and we found common ground on that aspect. I think it goes to his ability to understand things in a complex way, even when others are not yet in that position, that’s what was the genesis of us working together again. We tried to work together in 2009, it didn’t work, and then we returned to our agenda, quieted our agenda,” President Hichilema said.

President Hichilema noted that after winning the elections in 2021, his government resolved to change the law to ensure former vice-presidents were taken care of.

“When we won the elections in 2021, we realised that vice-presidents in this country were never looked after post their service in office, just totally ignored. Judges were being looked after, Speaker of the National Assembly was being looked after, surprisingly, the vice-president, second office in the land, was never cared for. I asked [Patrick] Kangwa, the Secretary to the Cabinet, Kangwa, this is an anomaly, how can this be? He said, this is how it is. I said, no, I’m going to change it. He says, how? The law won’t allow you. I asked the Attorney General to interpret the law. The law was not specific about what could be done but it was specific about what could not be done,” he explained.

“So, I then looked at the legal interpretation and decided that it was not fair for a guy like that and others not to be taken care of, looking at what they’ve done in the country. So, I exploited the lacuna in the law. Because it was specific that the vice-president could not be remunerated post office, I decided to appoint six former vice-presidents as my special envoys, and the Constitution allowed the president to do that. Following that, I asked the Attorney General and Parliament to legislate so that vice-presidents are given retirement benefits. Former vice presidents, all of them, irrespective of their political party, are now on retirement benefits”.

He recounted how Dr Scott demonstrated leadership after the death of former president Michael Sata.

“As we have heard, Guy was a steady hand, minister (Emmanuel) Chenda spoke clearly about that situation, I know he was conservative a little bit. It was a very difficult time for this country when president Sata died, the uncertainties that surrounded what this country would be and the internal issues within PF were actually heavier than issues outside of the PF. The competition for who succeeds president Sata, who keeps the country together, was extremely intense. In fact, it was frightening and Guy provided leadership. I think the nation sometimes must reflect on such critical moments and say, who helped us walk through that difficult situation? And Guy was there. Guy was there, encouraged by not many but by a small number of people inside the PF because a greater number of the members of PF wanted to go in a difficult direction,” said President Hichilema.

“And Guy, true to what he was, stood his ground. We want to thank him for that as a nation. Guy chose duty over ambition. Beyond personal interest, national interest first. Those of us who are leaders, seeking leadership, remember, national interest first, and your personal interest should be subsided to those of the nation. And I think Guy did exactly that. Guy’s lasting legacy, even as we head towards the 2026 elections, true to what Guy stood for, let us love this dear country. Let us do everything right to protect the culture and its people. Let us serve the people as Guy loved to serve his people. Let us talk peace and not plan violence towards this election. It’s competition to serve, not competition to fight, to injure. Vision, policies, ability to implement those policies is what matters. Let us focus on unity and not division in our country”.

Meanwhile, former minister of commerce, trade and industry under the PF government, Emmanuel Chenda thanked President Hichilema for the assistance he rendered to Dr Scott during his final years.

“Mr President, during the 10th memorial service for the late president Michael Sata, I did thank you for taking personal interest to ensure that Guy had good healthcare. Your timely support brought him great comfort in his final days and reassured the family during the most difficult time. I wish to thank you once again. As we say our final goodbyes today, let us honour Guy’s memory by taking forward his principles of patriotism, civility, courage, compassion for humanity and immaculate public service. Guy, journey well my elder brother, my friend, I imagine that Michael Sata is waiting for you at the gates of heaven and I have no doubt his first question will be about PF, you have my deepest sympathy Guy, and good luck as you answer him,” said Chenda.

And Dr Scott’s wife, Charlotte, said the former vice-president was a wonderful husband whose unfailing support, wise advice, belief in her as well as his love for her made her who she was today, adding that despite his long illness, losing him was an enormous shock.

In a speech read on her behalf by her sister Stephanie Harland, she noted that Dr Scott loved his country and wanted to do all he could to make sure all Zambian citizens could benefit from the opportunities Zambia had given him.

Hugo, Dr Scott’s second son said his father was a kind, intelligent, multi-talented, courageous and hardworking man who loved Zambia as he loved his children.