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| He was initially part of a coalition government with Nkomo. But in 1982 ZAPU was accused of plotting a coup and Nkomo was dismissed from government. A brutal crackdown on ZAPU supporters followed, Mugabe's notorious ] unit killed many members of the minority Ndebele tribe, supporters of Joshua Nkomo. This systematic murder of civilians has been described by some Zimbabweans as ], which means "the rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains". The collapse of the coalition with Nkomo allowed Mugabe to strengthen his hold on power. After his re-election in 1985, Mugabe signed a "unity agreement" with Nkomo to end the continuing ZANU-ZAPU rivalry and brought Nkomo into government as a vice-president. Mugabe was re-elected in 1990 and 1996. | He was initially part of a coalition government with Nkomo. But in 1982 ZAPU was accused of plotting a coup and Nkomo was dismissed from government. A brutal crackdown on ZAPU supporters followed, Mugabe's notorious ] unit killed many members of the minority Ndebele tribe, supporters of Joshua Nkomo. This systematic murder of civilians has been described by some Zimbabweans as ], which means "the rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains". The collapse of the coalition with Nkomo allowed Mugabe to strengthen his hold on power. After his re-election in 1985, Mugabe signed a "unity agreement" with Nkomo to end the continuing ZANU-ZAPU rivalry and brought Nkomo into government as a vice-president. Mugabe was re-elected in 1990 and 1996. | ||
| Mugabe improved health and education for the black population at the beginning of his regime. In 1991 |
Mugabe improved health and education for the black population at the beginning of his regime. In 1991, due to economic mismanagement Mugabe began a programme of free-market reforms, but the ] suspended aid because the reforms were "not on track". | ||
| At the same time he had pursued what he regards as a deeply moral campaign against ] making "unnatural sex acts" illegal with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Including arressting the former President of Zimbabwe, ], he was convicted of gay sex offenses. | At the same time he had pursued what he regards as a deeply moral campaign against ] making "unnatural sex acts" illegal with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Including arressting the former President of Zimbabwe, ], he was convicted of gay sex offenses. | ||
Revision as of 10:43, 19 March 2003
Robert Gabriel Mugabe (born February 21, 1924) has been the head of government in Zimbabwe since 1980.
Zimbabwe's hero of the independence war from Britain is widely viewed internationally as an authoritarian ruler bent on maintaining his grip on power.
He was born a 'shona', at Kutama Mission, Zvimba District, north-west of Harare, in then Rhodesia. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and was educated in Jesuit schools. He qualified as a teacher at age 17, but left to study at Fort Hare University in South Africa, graduating in 1951. He then studied at Drifontein in 1952, Salisbury (1953), Gwelo (1954), in Tanzania (1955-1957), and then Accra, Ghana (1958-60) where he married a local teacher.
Returning to Rhodesia in 1960 as a committed Marxist he joined Joshua Nkomo and the National Democratic Party (NDP), which later became the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). He left ZAPU in 1963 to form the rival Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).
He was detained with other nationalist leaders in 1964 and remained in prison for ten years. On his release he resumed leadership of ZANU and left Rhodesia for Mozambique in 1974 and led the Chinese financed ZANU military arm, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), fighting in the war against the Ian Smith government. In 1976 ZANU allied itself with ZAPU as the Popular Front (PF).
After negotiations the 1979 Lancaster House accord led to free elections and independence, Mugabe returned home as a revolutionary hero and was elected to head the first government as Prime Minister on March 4, 1980 with ZANU winning 57 out of 100 seats in the new parliament.
He was initially part of a coalition government with Nkomo. But in 1982 ZAPU was accused of plotting a coup and Nkomo was dismissed from government. A brutal crackdown on ZAPU supporters followed, Mugabe's notorious Fifth Brigade unit killed many members of the minority Ndebele tribe, supporters of Joshua Nkomo. This systematic murder of civilians has been described by some Zimbabweans as Gukurahundi, which means "the rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains". The collapse of the coalition with Nkomo allowed Mugabe to strengthen his hold on power. After his re-election in 1985, Mugabe signed a "unity agreement" with Nkomo to end the continuing ZANU-ZAPU rivalry and brought Nkomo into government as a vice-president. Mugabe was re-elected in 1990 and 1996.
Mugabe improved health and education for the black population at the beginning of his regime. In 1991, due to economic mismanagement Mugabe began a programme of free-market reforms, but the International Monetary Fund suspended aid because the reforms were "not on track".
At the same time he had pursued what he regards as a deeply moral campaign against homosexuality making "unnatural sex acts" illegal with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Including arressting the former President of Zimbabwe, Canaan Banana, he was convicted of gay sex offenses.
Mugabe has been criticised for his intervention in the civil war in the Congo at a time when the Zimbabwean economy was struggling. The war has raised accusations of corruption, with officials alleged to be plundering the Congo's mineral reserves.
He faced Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in presidential elections in March 2002 and won a substantial and controversial victory with accusations of violence and a unprecidented turnout in Mugabe's rural stronghold of Mashonaland of around 90% (55% of the population voted overall). Growing discontent over the country's economy with inflation and unemployment at record levels are threatening his authority. Mugabe has pushed his alleged stated aim of handing over large tracts of land from whites to blacks by allowing the occupation and eviction of white-owned farms by so-called black war veterans and youth-malitia (green bombers).
Mugabe has made much of his return to devout Catholicism and worships at Harare's Catholic Cathedral. Following the death of his popular first wife, Sally, in 1992 he married his former secretary, Grace Marufu, in 1996.
In the run up to the 2002 election, Archbiship Desmond Tutu said "He was one of Africa's best leaders, a bright spark, a debonair, well-spoken and well-read person. Had he stepped down earlier, he would have had a splendid niche in the history of this country. Now he will be remembered by many as power crazy."