Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe Through the Decades
Mugabe has led the southern African nation since 1980.
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Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe through the Decades - For the past three decades, President Robert Mugabe has led Zimbabwe through its most transformative milestones, including independence, economic decline and widespread political unrest. Considered a ruthless dictator to his critics and a dedicated Pan-Africanist and anti-imperialist to his supporters, the 89-year-old has been placed on the international stage for the July 31 presidential elections. Keep reading to learn more about this long-serving, controversial Africa leader. – Patrice Peck(Photo: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/GettyImages
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A Freedom Fighter - Mugabe gained political recognition in the 1960s as the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe African National Union, a militant group that fought against the white-minority government. As Zimbabwe — referred to then as Rhodesia — struggled for independence, Mugabe was held as a political prisoner for more than 10 years. He is still considered to have been a key figure in the nation’s fight for independence.(Photo: Mike Stephens/Central Press/Getty Images)
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New Nation, New Leader - Once Zimbabwe declared its independence in 1980, Mugabe was elected in 1980. The leader was commended for cooperating with his political rivals and the white minority and tackling the economy in a rational manner.(Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)
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A Hero or a Tyrant? - Mugabe’s heroic image was soon questioned when he ousted a party representing a major region of the country from his administration. A volatile split also formed between Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, who previously fought beside the president in the 1970s for the nation’s independence before ending up the leader of the pro-Marxist party ZAPU. Mugabe embarked on an anti-opposition campaign, which led to thousands of killings. Unable to defeat one another, the two rivals merged to become ZANU PF.(Photo: Central Press/Getty Images)
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The Start of the Decline - To launch a land redistribution program in the mid-1990s, the president used mobs to force commercial farmers off of their land and presented the land to Black Zimbabweans — most of whom had no prior farming experience. While Mugabe intended to level racial inequities created by colonial rule, this program led to a continued drop in the nation’s economy.(Photo: REUTERS/Howard Burditt/Landov)
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Who Is the Real Mugabe? - Since 1998, Mugabe’s policies and rule have garnered more criticism and opposition at home and abroad. Accused of heading a military regime, the president soon faced a succession of sanctions from Western governments, including the United States. (Photo: XINHUA/LANDOV)
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Voting and Violence - Mugabe and the ZANU PF party lost the parliamentary majority to Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party, in the 2008 elections. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential vote, but without the minimum votes required to declare a win. An overwhelming number of deaths, rape, serious injuries and other methods of voter intimidation were reported during the controversial run-off elections, causing Tsvangirai to withdraw from the running. (Photos: Alan Porritt-Pool/Getty Images; REUTERS /PHILIMON BULAWAYO/LANDOV)
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President Once More - Immediately after the electoral body announced his win, President Mugabe was sworn in for his second term in June 2008. None of his fellow African heads of state attended the ceremony. Mugabe consented to a power-sharing arrangement with Tsvangirai, appointing him to Prime Minister after facing international pressure. Neither leader has hidden his apparent distaste for the deal, but they managed to agree on a new constitution, which included a two-term presidency limit, in March.(Photo: REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo/Landov)