Zambians have launched online and Facebook attacks on the country’s vice president Guy Scott over his remarks that South Africans are backwards and that he hates them.

Scott also told the Guardian newspaper in the UK that South African president Jacob Zuma was like former apartheid leader FW de Klerk because he tells us ‘you just leave Zimbabwe to me.’

In addition, Scott caused a stir when he said that he dislikes South Africa because it was too big and” unsubtle.”

The story initially appeared on the publication’s UK website last week and was subsequently followed up by several local publications in South Africa.

But some Zambians are turning online to demand that Scott be fired by President Michael Sata or that he should step down on his own for causing a diplomatic rift between the two countries.

Thousands of people are reportedly sending messages of protests via social media networks and online newspapers to Sata over Scott’s remarks.

Several facebook messages accuse Scott of being a racist, claiming his remarks were ‘non Zambian’ and childish.

“Guy how can you say such things to our dear beloved neighbour who we do business with and have a nice history with? I miss Levy Mwanawasa (former president) he was not corrupt and never favoured because by now Scott was going to be history,” Miyanda Mizinga posted on his Facebook page.

Online newspapers are also full of similar comments with only a handful of bloggers sympathising with Scott.

Scott has not said anything so far over his remarks. But online and social media debate is raging over his remarks.

At a press briefing yesterday, the opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) also called for the immediate resignation of Scott for his remarks against South Africans.

The MMD also wants the Zambian government to issue an apology to South Africa over Scott’s disparaging comment.

“We demand that he resigns,” said Michael Kaingu, MMD vice president.

The Zambian minister of information and broadcasting Kennedy Sakeni said Scott’s remarks do not reflect the views of the Zambian government and the people of Zambia because those were his personal views.

Last week, South Africa summoned Zambia’s high commissioner Muyeba Chikonde to explain the meaning of Scott’s remarks seen as insulting South Africa.