Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader, has died aged 95
6-09-2019, 18:26

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

 

Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader, has died aged 95.

His family confirmed his death to the BBC. Mr Mugabe had been receiving treatment in a hospital in Singapore since April.

He was ousted in a military coup in 2017 after 37 years in power.

Mr Mugabe's early years were praised for broadening access to health and education for the black majority - but his later years were marked by rights abuses and corruption.

He won Zimbabwe's first election after it secured independence from the UK, becoming prime minister in 1980.

He abolished the office in 1987, becoming president instead.

His successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa, expressed his "utmost sadness", calling Mr Mugabe "an icon of liberation".

Mr Mnangagwa had been Mr Mugabe's deputy before replacing him.

Who was Robert Mugabe?

Mr Mugabe was born on 21 February 1924 in what was then Rhodesia - a British colony, run by its white minority.

He was imprisoned for more than a decade without trial after criticising the government of Rhodesia in 1964.

n 1973, while still in prison, he was chosen as president of the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), of which he was a founding member.

Once released, he headed to Mozambique, from where he directed guerrilla raids into Rhodesia. But he was also seen as a skilled negotiator.

Political agreements to end the crisis resulted in the new independent Republic of Zimbabwe.

With his high profile in the independence movement, Mr Mugabe secured an overwhelming victory in the republic's first election.

But over his decades in power, international perceptions soured, with an increasing number of critics portraying Mr Mugabe as a kind of dictator.

In 2000, facing serious political opposition for the first time, he seized white-owned farms to resettle black farmers, causing economic disruption but boosting his popularity among supporters.

Around the same time, pro-Mugabe militias used violence to influence political outcomes. In 2008, when he lost the first round of the presidential election, attacks on the opposition resulted in his rival pulling out of the contest.

He famously declared that only god could remove him from office.

He was forced into sharing power in 2009 amid economic collapse, installing rival Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister.

But in 2017, amid concerns that he was grooming his wife Grace as his successor, the army - his long-time ally - turned against the president and forced him to step down.

What has the reaction been?

Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi, of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party, told the BBC the party was "very much saddened" by his death.

"As a government, we are very much with the family members of the Mugabe family," he said.

"He was a principled man: he could not change easily over his beliefs. He's a man who believed himself, he's a man who believed in what he did and he is a man who was very assertive in whatever he said.

"This was a good man."

Not everyone agreed, however.

Zimbabwean Senator David Coltart, who was once labelled "an enemy of the state" by Mr Mugabe, said his legacy was marred by his adherence to violence as a political tool.

"He was always committed to violence, going all the way back to the 1960s... he was no Martin Luther King," he told the BBC World Service. "He never changed in that regard."

But he acknowledged that there was another side to Robert Mugabe - "a man who indeed had a great passion for education - and I think he mellowed in his later years.

"There's a lot of affection towards him, because we must never forget that he was the person primarily responsible for ending oppressive white minority rule."

The government of neighbouring South Africa tweeted its condolences, labelling Mr Mugabe "a fearless pan-Africanist liberation fighter".

The BBC's Shingai Nyoka, in the capital Harare, said Mr Mugabe was likely to be remembered for his early achievements.

In his later years, people had called him all sorts of names, but now is probably the time when Zimbabweans will think back to his 37 years in power, she said.

There's a saying here - that whoever dies becomes a hero, and we're likely to see that now, our correspondent adds.


Robert Mugabe - key dates

1924: Born. Later trains as a teacher

1964: Imprisoned by Rhodesian government

1980: Wins post-independence elections

1996: Marries Grace Marufu

2000: Loses referendum - pro-Mugabe militias invade white-owned farms and attack opposition supporters

2008: Comes second in first round of elections to Tsvangirai, who pulls out of run-off following nationwide attacks on his supporters

2009: Amid economic collapse, swears in Tsvangirai as prime minister, who serves in uneasy government of national unity for four years

2017: Sacks long-time ally Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, paving the way for his wife Grace to succeed him

November 2017: Army intervenes and forces him to step down

 

BBC.COM

 

Comments: 45314
#44994   Rochell
      
web tasarım

I'm really impressed with your writing skills as well as with
the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme
or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice
quality writing, it is rare to see a great
blog like this one today.

web tasarım

Hello! I know this is kinda off topic however I'd figured
I'd ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa?
My site goes over a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from
each other. If you are interested feel free to send me an e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by the way!
9 October 2024 01:19
#44993   Marlene
      
What Is It That Makes Audi Car Key So Popular? reprogram
9 October 2024 01:08
#44992   Alanna
      
A Comprehensive Guide To Bean To Coffee Machine.

Ultimate Guide To Bean To Coffee Machine what is a Bean To cup coffee machine
9 October 2024 01:01
#44991   Nate
      
5 Reasons To Be An Online Car Key Cut And Program Near Me And 5 Reasons To Not
remote key programming
8 October 2024 17:24
#44990   Stefan
      
10 Strategies To Build Your Volkswagen Lost Car Keys Empire Volkswagen Golf Key Replacement
8 October 2024 16:55
#44989   Lucille
      
20 Misconceptions About Electric Foldable Wheelchair: Busted electric foldable wheelchairs
- Fredericka,
8 October 2024 16:30
#44988   Manie
      
Five Laws That Will Aid The ADHD Test Adult Industry how to get tested for adhd in adults
8 October 2024 15:49
#44987   Luann
      
I'm extremely pleased to discover this page. I want to to thank you for
ones time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every part of
it and i also have you saved to fav to see new information on your blog.


my blog post :: provadent product review
8 October 2024 15:37
#44986   Leigh
      
Guide To Double Glazed Window Replacement: The Intermediate Guide To Double Glazed Window Replacement double
glazed window replacement
8 October 2024 15:21
#44985   Violette
      
15 Gifts For The Best Bunk Lover In Your Life
Best Bunk Bed
8 October 2024 14:46
#44984   Kendra
      
Why Adding A Audi A5 Replacement Key To Your Life's Routine
Will Make The Impact audi Key Fob replacement
cost
8 October 2024 13:27
#44983   Stephen
      
9 Lessons Your Parents Teach You About Composite Front Door Replacement composite front Door replacement
8 October 2024 08:27
#44982   Andy
      
10 Facebook Pages That Are The Best That I've Ever Seen. Patio Doors Repairs sliding patio doors repairs
8 October 2024 08:14
#44981   Tristan
      
15 Private ADHD Titration Benefits You Should All Be Able To Private
adhd medication Titration
8 October 2024 06:53
#44980   Valencia
      
15 Best Twitter Accounts To Discover More About Sports Toto
Website 토토 꽁머니 (https://bookmarking.Win/)
8 October 2024 06:34
#44979   Leanne
      
Are You Getting The Most The Use Of Your Bifold Door Repair?
bifold door repair bracket
8 October 2024 06:29
#44978   Norma
      
Why Is Car Remote Key Repair So Popular? broken car key repair near
me
8 October 2024 06:08
#44977   Gwendolyn
      
The Top Reasons Why People Succeed Within The Compact Treadmill With Incline Industry Best
compact treadmill with incline


9 . What Your Parents Teach You About L Shaped Sofa Small L Shaped sofa Small
8 October 2024 05:47
#44976   Marlon
      
11 Ways To Completely Sabotage Your How To Diagnose ADHD Adhd Diagnosis Guidelines
8 October 2024 04:37
#44975   Arnulfo
      
web tasarım

What's up every one, here every person is sharing
these familiarity, thus it's pleasant to read this blog,
and I used to visit this blog all the time.
8 October 2024 02:54
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *


Back1 ... 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ... 2266Next