Robert Mugabe

Robert Gabriel Mugabe (21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was a Southern Rhodesian-born Zimbabwean politician. He was the President of Zimbabwe from 1987 to 2017. Before that, he was Prime Minister, the head of government, after being elected in 1980.^[1] For many years before he resigned, Mugabe ruled his country in the style of a dictator.

Robert Mugabe
2nd President of Zimbabwe
In office 31 December 1987 – 21 November 2017
Prime Minister	Morgan Tsvangirai (2009–2013)
First Vice President	Simon Muzenda Joice Mujuru Emmerson Mnangagwa
Second Vice President	Joshua Nkomo Joseph Msika John Nkomo Phelekezela Mphoko
Preceded by	Canaan Banana
Succeeded by	Phelekezela Mphoko (acting) Emmerson Mnangagwa
1st Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
In office 18 April 1980 – 31 December 1987
President	Canaan Banana
Deputy	Simon Muzenda
Preceded by	Abel Muzorewa (Zimbabwe Rhodesia)
Succeeded by	Morgan Tsvangirai (2009)
Leader and First Secretary of ZANU–PF Zimbabwe African National Union (1975–1987)
In office 18 March 1975 – 19 November 2017
Chairman	Joseph Msika John Nkomo Oppah Muchinguri Simon Khaya-Moyo
Second Secretary	Joseph Msika John Nkomo Joice Mujuru Emmerson Mnangagwa
Preceded by	Herbert Chitepo
Succeeded by	Emmerson Mnangagwa
13th Chairperson of the African Union
In office 30 January 2015 – 30 January 2016
Leader	Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Preceded by	Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Succeeded by	Idriss Déby
10th Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement
In office 6 September 1986 – 7 September 1989
Deputy	Janez Drnovšek
Preceded by	Zail Singh
Succeeded by	Janez Drnovšek
Personal details
Born	Robert Gabriel Mugabe (1924-02-21)21 February 1924 Kutama, Southern Rhodesia
Died	6 September 2019(2019-09-06) (aged 95) Singapore
Political party	National Democratic Party (1960–1961) Zimbabwe African People's Union (1961–1963) Zimbabwe African National Union (1963–1987) Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (1987–2017)
Spouse(s)	Sally Hayfron ​ ​ (m. 1961; died 1992)​ Grace Marufu ​ (m. 1996)​
Children	4, including Bona
Alma mater	University of Fort Hare University of South Africa University of London International Programmes
Signature

Presidency

His first years as leader were prosperous. He introduced land reforms, which were supposed to give the land owned by white people back to the "original" black owners.^[2] This has had a serious impact on how the country is seen from outside. In recent years, Mugabe has allowed violence against the white citizens of the country as well as to opposition leaders of all races. The reforms were done in 1998. In 2001, the United Nations imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe. This was done because human rights abuses came to the attention of the United Nations. Mugabe was known to be close with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.^[3]

On November 15, 2017, he was placed under house arrest^[4] as Zimbabwe's military took control in a coup.^[5] On November 21, 2017, Mugabe resigned as President of Zimbabwe.^[6] It ended his rule of 40 years.

Death

Mugabe was hospitalized in April 2019, making the last of several trips to Singapore for medical treatment.^[7][8] He died on 6 September 2019 at a Singapore hospital, at the age of 95.^[9] The cause of death was prostate cancer.^[10]