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: 45791
#6051   Sharyl
      
Don't have a zillion keys on smooth stomach ring, or simply heavy key ring usually.
Some vehicles use what these are known as 'split wafers.

Look into my web-site; cheap auto
locksmith Near me
6 February 2022 06:45
#6050   Ellis
      
However, not the case many brides are sold to concept behind this
ring of renting a bridal gown.

My homepage - Womens Clothing Rental
6 February 2022 06:45
#6049   Romeo
      
One solution to reduce expenses to society of double glazing is to
avoid buying windows that are filled with special gases.
This is one on the most expensive parts for the double glazing replacement window glazing process.
6 February 2022 06:43
#6048   Lenora
      
Regardless with the items caused the problem, this particular will show up and an individual to take care of it.



My website :: 24 hour Emergency Locksmith; Shuttle.Hatenablog.Com,
6 February 2022 06:42
#6047   Joey
      
It already been well documented that onions help prevent
thrombosis minimize hypertension, based on the small american style fridge freezer, http://i.n.N.o.centd.g.au@ruiframe.ru, Heart Romantic relationship.
The juice of one yellow or white onion a day
can raise HDL cholesterol, the good stuff, by thirty per.
6 February 2022 06:39
#6046   Santiago
      
Teach children to climb the ladder only while facing the ladder.
While it may look easy all of them to climb down facing outward into the room,
always be safer to climb down facing the ladder and holding
on securely.

my page ... loft bed with
desk
6 February 2022 06:35
#6045   Heidi
      
My honorable mentions are Fawlty Towers, The Simpsons, The Tracy Ullman Show, The Dean Martin Show & The Dean Martin Roasts, Most people enjoy Raymond, Friends, Sanford and Son, The Burns and Allen Show, The Danny Kaye Show, Make Room
For Daddy, The.

Visit my website - pinoy tv shows
6 February 2022 06:35
#6044   Joni
      
11. Do you eat a stable diet, including fresh fruit,
vegetables, and whole whole? Yes = plus involving.

No = minus or perhaps. FACT: Balanced dieters experience lower probability of both genetic and culturally related sicknesses.


my web-site cbd vape Juice
6 February 2022 06:30
#6042   Lynwood
      
1) Manage the situation - I'd personally hazard a guess a number
of of loved ones currently smoke marijuana. Well if
you're trying to quit, getting together with these friends
could be extremely rough.

Also visit my blog Highest Strength
Cbd Available In Uk
6 February 2022 06:27
#6041   Hiram
      
Dr. Watts. was initially a worse case scenario since he personally experienced the
drug's byproduct himself but the rep was able to eventually turn him around creating him into one from the biggest consumers that use product.


my homepage: avon login uk (Buck)
6 February 2022 06:27
#6040   Shawn
      
Like me, she for you to be successful and have an overabundance
of than enough money. Sherrrd like to select the thing which makes
her feel complete and in many cases even have the option to share her knowledge with the world.


Also visit my web-site; cbd uk High Strength
6 February 2022 06:27
#6039   Andres
      
Chances are if you're like the majority of the population, you might have
a telephone. Instead of panicking in this particular
type of situation, call information.

Feel free to surf to my website 24 hours emergency
locksmith
6 February 2022 06:25
#6038   Jacques
      
Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks are another team with loads
of promise. Last season's preseason rankings had them
globe top fifteen. They finished last in their division with a 70-92 wood.
They, too, will have something to prove this year.



Here is my web blog :: 슈퍼맨토토
6 February 2022 06:24
#6037   Alison
      
If you're under the sense that Network marketing companies are mainly nutrition or Cosmetics Direct based,
you are right. MLM nutrition and MLM cosmetics companies can be very common.
6 February 2022 06:23
#6036   Stephan
      
Now, on account of the internet, a person can purchase
Avon beauty products online avon at
"Avon". When someone still needs to have a salesman help them choose their items and get great free samples,
then your website might help one getting a broker.
6 February 2022 06:21
#6035   Mickey
      
Becoming successful in any sales is a numbers exercise.
Keep track of tinier businesses. It'll also a person with an involving product demand and areas for enlargement.
Below are some of the numbers how the best software sales reps keep a record of.


Here is my webpage: avon Rep login Uk (maps.google.com.mt)
6 February 2022 06:19
#6034   Gudrun
      
Load size - What amount laundry do you wash per load?
So as to avoid to consider the load size into levels.

Here is my web site ... Best 9 kg
Washing machines
6 February 2022 06:16
#6033   Elinor
      
The amateur card counters appear from every direction whenever a movie such as "21" or a novel like "Bringing Down the House? comes out. The biggest mistake the casinos make when they chase them away is one of the most serious.

Also visit my web page - poker (Reed)
6 February 2022 06:15
#6032   Alvaro
      
The looks of distaste and contempt they got from the neighbours associated with
upscale district was enough to encourage them to schedule it at midnight the following year.


my web blog: small
american style fridge freezer
6 February 2022 06:15
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: *