michael sata had shown signs of aging when he was elected in 2011. even then there were concerns about his health. he had his supports, but also his enemies. sata managed to keep zambia relatively stable economically and politically. >>> now so south sudan, the world's youngest country. thousands of people have died and more than 2 million people are now living as refugees within their own country, following the ten months of fighting there. south sudan's president has been speaking about the conflict to al jazeera, and he explains that the country lacks political unity, but that it's up to his main political rival to make the difference. >> if you are really interested in -- to know when will the -- the peace come to south sudan, you better ask my opponent. because for me, i am for peace. i have never attacked him in his position. he is the one attacking. >> reporter: but you will have to compromise, won't you? >> i compromise when i talk to somebody, and he understands me. >> reporter: so this ideas that you both share power, is that feasible? >> n

>> well michael sata was a populist president. he tried to become president four times and he final became it. he had promised lots of jobs and economic recovery, but sadly he didn't manage to deliver on much of that. >> why does he fail to achieve this? >> partly he got sidetracked by his own health. he had been ill quite some time. there was lots of political insight from the party. they were extracted from the traffic of rebuilding the country. >> very authoritarian? >> yes. he was. that's why he got the nickname king cobra. he was a man of action. he was very venomous. if you said something he didn't appreciate, you'd know about it. >> what might happen to you? >> he'd tell you off very publicly. >> who might fill his shoes now? might there be a sense of hope in the country now that goals might be delivered on the employment situation that might improve. >> it could be. what's happening at the moment is the cabinet is in an emergency meeting trying to figure out who's going to be the acting president. that's what they're doing

sata has passed on. >>> the bbc was recently in zambia speaking to me. she speaks how concerns over his health have been mounting if for some time. >> it sounds like people were expecting bad news to come from the presidency office. they had been complaining a lot because they have not been told or given enough news on the status of the president. nothing official. even last friday at the celebration, there was no mention of president michael sata's health status the. the mood is subdued on the streets today. he was a domineering figure. one wonder who is might step into his shoes. >> there will be a small transition. the defense minister is currently also the acting president. what will happen, zambia will hold elections in 90 days to election a new president. at the moment, acting president is firmly in charge. >> as the president passes on, it's clear that many things he promise had the he would do for zambia he failed to deliver upon. >> that's correct. a lot of people were complaining about that but at the same time saying zambia celebrated jubilee

this describes the late president sata. he lost attempts three times, on the fourth he won, defeating a party that had been in power for 20 years. while he was in the opposition, he criticized china's investments in zambia, accusing the chinese of mistreating workers. he turned down a stance. promising that he would grow the economy. there are signs of development. many people are poor. >> the quality of the life of the people has improved. the infrastructure or the development in the country, has it improved. i don't think, but there are some infrastructure that has been put in - the economy has grown, but not grown to a very high level. you don't here people talking of zambia being the place to invest, the place with the highest. >> reporter: tolerance for political opposition was questionable. protests were often not allowed to take place. the administration cracked town on homosexuality. michael sata showed signs of ageing when elected in 2011. there were concerns about his health, which was a closely kept secret. he fu

the president michael sata has died. he had been receiving medical care for the past week. we don't have word yet on the exact cause of death. but the 77-year-old president was unable to address the u.n. general assembly last month, you may remember, there were suspicions and questions at that time about his health. the video you're seeing now is from last year. he left for treatment in london abruptly missing the 50th anniversary of zambia's independence, a very big event, participated by many in the country. mr. sata appointed his minister of defense and justice as acting president before he left for london. we're just getting this confirmation now from the zambian government. do stay with us as we chase additional details. but this unfortunate news into cnn. zambia's president, michael sata, has died. >>> all right, we want to go to kazakhstan now, we're actually looking at a russian soyuz rocket about to launch. and it is taking, coincidentally, supplies to the international space station. now, of course just moments ago, i was talking to miles o'brian, who was explaini

everyone knew michael sata was sick, but his death left many in a state of shock. he was popular and stood up for the pour. in some cases he doubled the salaries of some public workers like this man. >> i was so happy, because he was the only president who came in and -- and thought he should help us. and we saw the fruits. and who are we not to say thank you. >> reporter: but the same government has frozen public sector salaries for two years. the union is threatening to hold nation wise demonstrations. he has to support six children, including three of his sisters. inflation is 8%, now everything costs more. >> they increase their -- i mean, their tuitions every year, and if governance is not going to consider trying to increase even talking, well, it's quite devastating. >> reporter: the government scrapped an average 30% subsidy on the price of maze, and 20% subsidy on the price of petrol. mays is a staple food. -- sata's government promised it would use the money it saved to spend it on infrastructure. it has been very difficult for people to argue with that r

scott has become africa's -- he takes over as interim leader following the death of president michael sata. >>> students who spend a lot of time surfing the web can get credit for it. a course this spring will be offered called wasting time on the internet. students will only be allowed to interact through chat rooms and social media. they'll do what they do and be themselves. >> sounds like an easy a. >>> next time mass transit isn't working for you, give this a try. called race the tube. you run above the ground and board the same train. it is now a global sensation with hundreds of runners posting their races. >> almost impossible. >> it is a scary thing to think, you know, how dangerous that on could be. but -- >> pushing women and children out of the way. >> the doors are closing, running right in. but it is -- >> i don't want that to catch on. >> no. >> i don't need that. >> yeah. don't try this at home, right? >>> now a look back. 40 years ago the rumble in the jungle took place in zaire. muhammad ali knocked out george foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout to regain his wo