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: 45322
#722   Winona
      
Hey There. I discovered your weblog the usage of msn. That is a really neatly
written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to
learn more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post.

I will certainly return.

Also visit my site Car key
lost
24 December 2021 10:12
#721   Vernita
      
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your
sites really nice, keep it up! I'll go ahead and bookmark
your site to come back later on. Many thanks

Also visit my web-site :: lost Car
key replacement near me
24 December 2021 10:08
#720   Wilma
      
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody?
This piece of writing posted at this web site is genuinely pleasant.


Here is my blog post; lost Car keys replacement Cost
24 December 2021 10:08
#719   Branden
      
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you may be
a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will come back later on. I
want to encourage you to continue your great job, have a nice holiday weekend!


Also visit my site - Https://Ibercomic.Com/
24 December 2021 10:03
#718   Elva
      
Fine way of describing, and pleasant post to obtain facts concerning my presentation topic, which i am going to deliver in institution of higher education.

My homepage - repair sash windows
24 December 2021 09:56
#717   Dorris
      
Wonderful article! This is the type of info that
are supposed to be shared across the web. Disgrace on the search engines for no
longer positioning this put boarding up
upper! Come on over and talk over with my site . Thank you =)
24 December 2021 09:56
#716   Refugia
      
bookmarked!!, I love your web site!

Feel free to visit my web site - double glazing Windows
replacement
24 December 2021 09:55
#715   Sima
      
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital
to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.

Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently
quickly.

Here is my blog; slots (http://www.theleagueonline.org/php.php?a%5B%5d=%3ca+href%3dhttps%3a%2f%2fvoiceem
ergent.com%2f%3erecommended+internet+page%3c%2fa%3e%3cmeta+http-equiv%3drefresh+
content%3d0%3burl%3dhttps%3a%2f%2fvoiceemergent.com%2f+%2f%3e
)
24 December 2021 09:52
#714   Emilia
      
This is a topic that's close to my heart... Many thanks!
Where are your contact details though?

Also visit my page ... Mobility
24 December 2021 09:50
#713   Deangelo
      
I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!

Also visit my blog post: Stepanie
24 December 2021 09:48
#712   Norman
      
Yes! Finally something about work with avon for avon.
24 December 2021 09:48
#711   Kari
      
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for refurbish double glazing

Feel free to surf to my web blog; glass refurbishing
24 December 2021 09:40
#710   Blake
      
Hi are using Wordpress cbd for
sale near me
your blog platform? I'm new to the blog
world but I'm trying to get started and create my own. Do you need any coding expertise to make your own blog?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
24 December 2021 09:40
#709   Simon
      
A person essentially help to make seriously posts I would state.
That is the very first time I frequented your web page and to this point?
I amazed with the research you made to create this actual post amazing.

Great task!

My website - car door lock repair cost uk
24 December 2021 09:38
#708   Jamel
      
That is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your feed and stay up for looking for more of your excellent post.
Also, I've shared your web site in my social networks

Review my site :: Bmw Key Repair
24 December 2021 09:37
#707   Mindy
      
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the
video to make your point. You obviously know what
youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you
could be giving us something informative to read?

Also visit my blog ... Double Glazed Windows Repairs Near Me
24 December 2021 09:37
#706   Opal
      
Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be at the web
the simplest factor to remember of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed
at the same time as other folks consider worries that they
plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined
out the entire thing with no need side-effects , other folks can take a signal.
Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

my page; Lost car keys replacement
24 December 2021 09:37
#705   Fernando
      
Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of.
I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they just don't
know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top door And
window repairs near me
also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects ,
people could take a signal. Will likely be
back to get more. Thanks
24 December 2021 09:36
#704   Halley
      
You're so cool! I don't suppose I've read through anything like that
before. So great to discover somebody with genuine thoughts on this topic.
Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This site is one thing that
is required on the web, someone with a bit of originality!


Here is my homepage Minerva
24 December 2021 09:36
#703   Kevin
      
Good day very nice web site!! Man .. Beautiful ..
Wonderful .. I'll bookmark your website and take the
feeds additionally? I am happy to seek out numerous
helpful information right here in the put up, we'd like
develop extra strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing.
. . . . .

Here is my web page; window replacement glass near me
24 December 2021 09:36
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: *