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: 45471
#10111   Laurinda
      
Directory content articles are a key factor. Some may charge an amount for inclusion whilst others may absolutely
not.

Feel free to surf to my blog post Seo optimization
14 February 2022 10:01
#10110   Wanda
      
Because most players realize that contributing $2 in order to win $1
is often a tough proposition, most poker rooms will enable the small
blind and big blind to 'chop'.

Feel free to surf to my page ... 먹튀검증사이트
14 February 2022 09:52
#10109   Isabel
      
As we said earlier, the big game in poker nowadays is On-line poker.
If you're planning on making that "thee" game at your place, why not
check out some Online poker poker table cloth?

Feel free to surf to my page: 해외축구중계
14 February 2022 09:46
#10108   Omer
      
judi slot online
Online Judi Slots: The Benefits
Online judi slots provide a variety of advantages.
You can enjoy the thrill of winning in a fun environment.
You can also enhance your skills at gaming by playing the game.
14 February 2022 09:41
#10107   Jefferson
      
vauxhall ecu replacement
repairs could be required if your car is having issues.
The cost of these repairs can be high and you might want to save money
by doing the work yourself. A trusted mechanic can make the repairs, and most
of them will charge less than $150.
14 February 2022 09:41
#10106   Rafaela
      
12. Link building to your site is recommended to its tactical.
As a matter of fact, links are particularly queen to enrich your king's fresh
subject material.

Also visit my web blog search Engine optimization seo
14 February 2022 09:39
#10105   Warren
      
Now for the games: segment a flashback classic,
regarding example Madonna's "Holiday," into 3 to 4 CDs.

Divide your guests into gonna do it . number of groups, and challenge the come program a dance routine to suit their part of the
step.

Have a look at my page; monthly Clothes
14 February 2022 09:37
#10104   Moses
      
situs judi online Slot Terlengkap
Making a decision on the best Situs Judi Online Slot
There are some things you should consider when choosing an online Situs Judi slot.
Although many websites claim to be the best, it isn't always the case.
14 February 2022 09:37
#10103   Caryn
      
The dresses for last season could be very cheaply in several stores.
The fall is usually best time to get these dresses. When you have some store coupons, they will be even costly.
Coupons are often given by stores to customers who use plastic.


Also visit my blog post :: Clothes Every Month
14 February 2022 09:35
#10102   Lachlan
      
However, the Texas Holdem Poker Table Felt was set plan a 36 x 72
inch cut, which allowed us to staple these onto the folding tables without it looking bargain basement priced.


Here is my web-site; 샌즈카지노사이트
14 February 2022 09:32
#10101   Moses
      
You need to have to build a great mental attitude as well
as be physically fit to successfully compete and
relish the games. On-line will be scary at first. It's not the same as being a friendly gathering for a
few games with buddies.

my web blog 스포츠중계사이트
14 February 2022 09:28
#10100   Benedict
      
It is that of all these different regarding products available as systems that men and women fail to understand what a real sports
handicapping and betting system is.

Here is my website :: Totospot
14 February 2022 09:24
#10099   Charley
      
Now vacation get right down to the nitty-gritty of writing the
text copy for your pages.

Also visit my site google search engine Optimization
14 February 2022 09:23
#10098   Mammie
      
There is lot of variables for your man contemplate and some help from the best man an additional groomsman may
appropriate. Take a look for your wedding tuxedo early to acquire a best a single one.


my website - monthly clothing club
14 February 2022 09:19
#10097   Emil
      
Making wedding flower arrangements yourselves,
purchase spend less on this florists. Usually, the florists make flower bouquets on bouquets, centerpieces, corsages, hairclips, button-holes, wedding aisles, and flower girl holders.


Feel free to visit my web site; clothes every month, http://belzen.free.fr/,
14 February 2022 09:13
#10096   Roberta
      
In tennis, a top seed playing against anyone, 6 to eight places
below them regarding World Ranking table, will definitely win.

Feel free to surf to my blog 토토사이트
14 February 2022 09:12
#10095   Harry
      
Ante-post betting generally comes together days, weeks
or even months before a actual race day. In horse racing, ante-post betting
generally remains open up until the day replicate race.

Here is my homepage; 사설토토
14 February 2022 09:05
#10094   Zack
      
CBD Vegan Sour Gummy Bears provide a tasty and
healthy way to consume CBD. The gluten-free and sugar-free
snacks come with 10mg CBD per serving. It's a refreshing
departure from sugary gummy bears.
14 February 2022 09:02
#10093   Tiffiny
      
Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (d8; Merri,-THC)
is a psychoactive cannabinoid that is an isomer of THC,
or delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinole. It is being studied to determine its
biological properties.
14 February 2022 09:01
#10092   Brooke
      
Part from the allure of playing roulette is to be a simple
game fully grasp with a rather low learning curve. Although roulette don't even have the
same level and of a craps table, it is nevertheless simply like fun.

My web blog ... 안전놀이터주소
14 February 2022 08:56
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: *