Zimbabwe’s founding President Robert Mugabe has died at the age of 95, president Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
In a statement early on Friday, Mnangagwa called Mugabe “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.”
“It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe,” he wrote on Twitter on Friday,
Monica Mutsvangwa, the Minister of information, confirmed the death, saying: “Yes it is really saddening. Some of us were like his children to him. We can never write our history without mentioning him.”
Mugabe is believed to have died in Singapore, where he made frequent visits to receive medical care in recent months as his health deteriorated. As far back as November 2018, Mnangagwa, who took over from him as president, told members of the ruling Zanu-PF party that Mugabe could no longer walk.
Mr. Mnangagwa had said that Mr. Mugabe had spent several months in Singapore getting treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Mr. Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state before his ouster in 2017, was the only leader Zimbabweans had known since independence, in 1980.
Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first prime minister and then as president from 1987, was once touted for investing heavily in health and education in the early years of his rule, leaving Zimbabwe with one of the highest literacy rates in Africa.
He however became increasingly unpopular as the economy began to wane, later facing charges of cracking down on his political opponents and rigging elections to stay in power.
His government’s controversial programme of seizing white-owned commercial farms for redistribution among blacks he said had been dispossessed of the land during colonialism triggered a sharp economic meltdown in 2000, from which Zimbabwe has never recovered.
He stepped down under military pressure in November 2017 amid infighting within his ruling Zanu-PF party which saw his deputy Mnangagwa, who was in a rival faction, take over as president.
Go well Mubabe
They mistreated him now they are saying nice things these hypocrites
Zimbabwe if fuxking shhit country, their thinking is same as the PF.
Mugabe made Edgar president, Edgar spent a week in Mugabe’s guest room before his first elections being tutored how to misuse the tribes in ruling a country.
Ba Edgar will be shedding fake tears as he did at Sata’s funeral, where Mugabe was main guest, giving a 45 minutes speech.
95 year old, that is impressive anyway.
Good riddance
Thanks
BB2014,2016
You started off well then ended off as a tyrant that single handedly destroyed one of Africa’s most beautiful and vibrant economies. For all the atrocities you committed and allowed to be committed judgment is now waiting for you.
Karma is real.
Some of us who lived through part of the struggles for independence and self-determination in countries like Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mazambique, Namibia, and Angola will never forget the courage and fortitude of such men as Robert (Bob) Mugabe. Now with only a few of them left, like our own KK, it is indeed the passing of an era.
Yes, the man was only human and had his many faults, but one thing you can NEVER take away from him was his PRIDE as a black African. This is the man who could tell off White folks (colonialists or otherwise) in no uncertain terms and with a smile on his face to know their place and to take a seat. One just have to wonder whether he could have put Zimbabwe on a different trajectory had the British (UK) kept their end of the bargain they signed at Zimbabwe’s…
Continue…
concerning land reforms in that country.
Anyway, everything has its season so go well Cdr Mugabe. Say hey to your other Cdrs who proceeded you!
One of the most impeccable gallant son of Africa.
He exposed their double standard nature.
He spoke against them at the UN boldly and forthcomingly.
He boldly stood up to imperialists.
He shielded Morgan Twangirai near the corridors of power.
Instead of dealing with him directly, their modus operandi was to unashamedly, greedily and mercilessly put the entire country into both economic and political turmoil.
RIP
Good riddance. He made Zimbabweans cheap labour for SA and Botswana
Rest in peace, Old Bob. Some aspects of your life were unpleasant, especially the way you brutalized your own people. Most African freedom fighters were a disaster when in government. They didn’t give their people the same rights that they fought the colonizers for. For others they even eliminated their own close associates and unfortunately this culture has continued to date. Those leaders whom people thought could be reasonable in their decisions died mysteriously either during the liberation struggle or after Independence. And this isn’t peculiar to Zimbabwe alone.
The thing about those in power is foolishly thinking that they are immortal as they eliminate their opponents or anyone with different views, but time is a fair equaliser, wherever you sent your perceived foes there you go too. A wise person learns from other people’s mistakes but a fool (waits to) learn from his own mistakes. Let anyone with ears listen.
Mugabe the founding father of PF-Zambia, was he the only president at Sata’s funeral? But I remember he was the only president at the inauguration of Edgar as president. People forgot about that Presidential inauguration, the worst and most boring one in an empty stadium.
Ba Edgar might be the main speaker at Mugabe’s funeral at heroes Stadium of Zimbabwe. These PF copied everything, Heroes stadium name, Zanu-PF name, the fuccking fist of PF, honorary degrees to both useless presidents… I can’t wait to clean up ZANU-PF from Zambia.
Thank Mugabe for dying, you fuccked up our leaders of PF.
Big Bob, we say just like Solomon, its vanity of vanities. Sometimes we live as if we will not die…..There comes a time when everything perish and this is your story now uncle Bob. One of the two things awaits for you now: either you go to heaven when Jesus comes or you follow Lucifer, the devil after judgement.
Uncle Bob on his way to Lucifer you killed so many innocent soul your time has come to be judged bye bye
The history I know doesn’t have Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s first (founding) president but Canaan Banana. In the first 7years of independent Zimbabwe Mugabe was prime minister and the president was Banana. The only fact we can’t change is that Mugabe was ZANU PF first president not the country.
How Mugabe managed to erase Banana from Zimbabwe’s history is proof that he was one of Africa’s worst dictator.
RIP Mugabe.
go well you run your race
@Dokowe, get your history in order. Mugabe was Prime Minister but Head of State. Canaan Banana’s Presidency was ceremonial.
@Kawasaki. I know, but still president whether symbolic or not because he was inaugurated.
So dictators can die?, living ones are still delusional they will live forever. Ecclesiastics says vanity, vanity has increased in men, thinking they will never die. Alas, many still die history await others as well to die soon.
We shall deeply remember the legacy of president mugabe.He helped us to shape the history of southern africa.A true icon to the people of Africa a great liberator and panafrican.rest in peace
Late Mugabe was great, he was imprisoned without being taken to court from 1964 to 1973 by the whites for speaking out against colonialism and the whites claim they have know human rights… That part of history is hidden in the books because the current generation is lazy to read…The whites are the worst human rights violators and anyone who stands against them they label such a one as a dictator… Had late President Mandela grabbed land from the minority whites they would have given him adverse publicity…Only critical minds can appreciate my contribution… Farewell Mr Mugabe MHSRIP
And who exactly invented these human rights my racist brother from another mother ?
MHSRIIP
All tyrants think they will rule forever. Kulibe. Time will come. Leave a good legacy when you leave office as President. This tyrant called Mugabe is dead and I know he helped and inducted some people. Ni zanu izo, time is coming
What a useless leader he was. He killed many people and massed up land reform policy just because of thirst for power. There were better ways of giving back land to the people, not what he did.
WITH RESPECT RIP TRUE SON OF AFRICA AFRICAN UNION AND SADC FAILED YOU BECAUSE YOU STOOD UP TO THE WHITE MAN BUT THEY COULDNT STAND AND SUPPORT YOU
It is true that good people die young. MYSBIH.
He started well but his ending was terrible. I hope he wakes up to the better side in his next life, which is by far longer than 95 years.
Mugabe started well but like many tyrants he destroyed everything and everyone that threatened his power, real or perceived enemies. He could have resigned long time ago as a statesman and handed over power peacefully. Instead he had to be forced out.
There are many Zimbabweans today without parents, brothers or uncles because they died at Mugabe’s instigation. With all the good intentions, he bungled his land reforms leaving that once prosperous country in a worst economic crisis the world has ever seen. I’m afraid his legacy isn’t any good no matter how you want to sugarcoat it… hope his admirers use this time to reflect on their own life and legacy.
The Greatest Hero of African people. We weep as we thank God for such a man given to the people of Zimbabwe at the time of their need in Zimbabwe. Mugabe was a Brave Warrior, a Liberator, for such a man, his enemies would be great. That’s the sign of a feared man. A strength in character matched by the great need of Zimbabwe.
We pray for his last good journey on the wings of Angels to a place of peace and rest. God Bless his soul. We pray for his family, for comfort at this time. As his enemies cackle we praise his great deeds for his fellows. Go well Sir, uncle Bob!