Founding father of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, has
died, according to his successor President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The former
president ruled the country with an iron fist for more than 30 years. The
ex-president had been in poor health for a considerable length of time, and had
been receiving treatment in a hospital in Singapore since April.
His
successor, Emerson Mnangagwa, tweeted on
Friday, "It is with the utmost
sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former
President, Cde Robert Mugabe.
"Cde
Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to
the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history
of our nation and continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal
peace."
Mr. Mugabe who infamously claimed that "only
God" could ever remove him from office was ousted in a military coup in
2017 after 37 years in power. Members of his own party turned against him after
he dismissed then Vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa and replaced him with
his wife, Grace. Mr Mnangagwa went on to succeed Mr. Mugabe.
Mr. Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924, when
Uganda was still known as Rhodesia - a British colony run by its white
minority. He began his political career as a freedom fighter, in quest for
Zimbabwe's independence. He was regularly compared to South Africa's Nelson
Mandela. He criticized the government of Rhodesia in 1964 and for that was
imprisoned for more than a decade without trial. While still in prison, in
1973, he was elected as president of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a
militant liberation movement based in Mozambique. After his release, he headed
to Mozambique, from where he helped orchestrate an armed resistance
against white rule. The conflict ended in 1979 with Mr. Mugabe emerging as a
war hero both at home and abroad. His popularity in the independence movement
led Mr. Mugabe to secure an overwhelming victory in the newly independent
Zimbabwe's first election in February 1980.
President Mugabe was increasingly portrayed as a
dictator after decades in power as he often used violent militias to silence
his political opponents during elections and was merciless to those who opposed
his rule.
While the country plunged into economic ruin, he
and his wife led lavish lifestyles. His 85th birthday party reportedly cost
$250,000, and went on to celebrate lavishly for another decade. Last year, he
reportedly spent $800,000 on his birthday party, celebrating in a region
plagued by food shortages and drought.
Despite being called to step down severally, Mr.
Mugabe insisted he would only leave office when his "revolution" was
complete. His long-time ally, the army, turned against him in 2017 - amid
growing concerns that he was grooming his wife Grace as his successor - and
forced him to step down.
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