Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe: from nerd to Dictator

On September 6, former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe died. He was 95 years old. During his 30-year rule, the country has reached a record level of inflation and has become one of the poorest countries in the world.

"Tyrant", "killer of whites", "black racist" — whatever epithets the press awarded him. He was accused of all mortal sins — hyperinflation, racial cleansing, reprisals against the opposition and the establishment of a personal dictatorship.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924 in the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). As a child, he attended a Catholic school. One of his classmates later recalled: "If we had such nicknames in use, we would call him a nerd."

In 1960, the future President of Zimbabwe began his political career by joining the National Democratic Party (NDP) and became its Information and Press Secretary. In 1961-1963, he held a similar position in the Union of the African People of Zimbabwe (ZAPU) after the ban of the NDP. In 1963, he was arrested and spent 11 years in prison. After his release, he took an active part in the partisan movement.

After coming to power, Mugabe eliminated his rivals, declaring them rebels. The fight against them resulted in the genocide of one of the tribes. According to various estimates, from 10 thousand to 20 thousand civilians were killed.

In the 1980 elections, Mugabe became prime minister, and the country received a new name - Zimbabwe. In 1987, Mugabe abolished the post of prime minister, and appointed himself president of the country. Subsequently, he was re-elected in 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008 and 2013.

In the early 2000s, the so-called black redistribution began in Zimbabwe: the lands of white farmers were expropriated and transferred to the indigenous population. The massive seizure of farm lands resulted in pogroms and murders, hundreds of thousands of people were left without housing. Due to the fact that the indigenous people did not have farming skills, 80% of the occupied territories were subsequently abandoned.

As a result of the housing reform carried out by Mugabe, slums were demolished, more than 2.5 million people were left homeless. After the UN demand to stop the housing campaign due to inhumanity, the government froze the reform.

In 2008, former South African leader Nelson Mandela (pictured in the center), whom Mugabe met while studying at Fort Hare University in South Africa and maintained friendly relations, joined his criticism, saying that the political crisis in Zimbabwe was caused by "the failure of Mugabe's leadership.

Robert Mugabe was married twice. In October 2017, Zimbabwe's Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa publicly accused Mugabe's second wife, 52-year—old Grace Mugabe (pictured), of trying to poison him and eliminate him as a possible successor. According to a number of experts, Mr. Mugabe really intended to make his wife the ruler of the country.

During the reign of Robert Mugabe, hyperinflation occurred in the country — the Zimbabwean dollar depreciated so much that in 2009 the national currency was abolished. Currently, foreign currency is used in Zimbabwe. The unemployment rate reaches 80%.

The media has repeatedly reported on the deterioration of Mugabe's health. In particular, journalists wrote that the president suffers from cancer. In July 2017, Mugabe, speaking to his supporters, said that he was not going to die, and did not know anyone who could replace him as president.

Robert Mugabe is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the leader of the state who has made the largest number of official visits abroad. In 2016, the president unveiled a monument to himself. Social media users ridiculed the sculpture with a raised and clenched fist, comparing it to Superman.

Before the military coup, 93-year-old Robert Mugabe was the oldest ruler in the world. In 2017, at the celebrations on the occasion of his birthday, several thousand guests were fed a 93-kilogram cake, and the president himself put on a suit with his own image for the holiday.

In November 2017, a military coup took place in the country as a result of the conflict between Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe's Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mass protests against the Mugabe regime took place in many cities. On November 21, the president left his post, the military placed him under house arrest.

Robert Mugabe died on September 6 in Singapore, where, according to his family, he was being treated for a serious illness. He was 95 years old.