By Tom Okure, Ph.D
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| President Mugabe was one of Africa’s longest serving and controversial rulers. |
Before his ouster in November 2017, President Mugabe was the
world’s oldest head of state and the only ruler of Zimbabwe since the country
gained independence in 1980. Mr. Mugabe was a nationalist and freedom fighter and like many similar individuals involved in the liberation of their countries, he often thought that Zimbabwe was his to govern until the end of his life.
During
a speech to the African Union in 2016, he stated that he would rule Zimbabwe “until
God says, ‘Come.’” He was often described as conflicted, calculating, ascetic
and cerebral. He used to describe himself as an African revolutionary inspired
by what he termed “Marxist-Leninism-Mao-Tse-tung thought.” He was inflexible in
his distrust of western powers and his desire to stay in power.
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| Former President of Zimbabwe and African strongman Robert Gabriel Mugabe |
In a number of occasions, there were speculations that he
was dead but it turned out to be wrong and just rumors by those who perhaps
wanted him dead.
He was finally removed from power by the military in November
2017, which thought he wanted to anoint his younger second wife, Grace Mugabe,
as his political successor. In a dramatic move by some Zimbabwean military
officers, he and his wife were abruptly put under house arrest in what amounted
to a bloodless coup. After his house arrest, his political party, ZANU-PF, forced
him to give up power. Even so, it was remarkable to see that even the military officers
that ousted him still had so much respect for him by allowing him and his wife to
continue to reside in his luxurious 24-bedroom home in Harare, Zimbabwe’s
capital.
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| Mugabe and new wife Grace in Zimbabwe August 17, 1996 after exchanging their wedding vows. REUTERS/Howard Burditt/File Photocaption |
Mr. Mugabe was then replaced by his longstanding aide and
close ally, Mr. Mnangagwa. During his inauguration address to the nation in
November 2017, Mr. Mnangagwa spoke very highly of President Mugabe describing
him as “one of the founding fathers and leaders of our nation.” He also stated:
“to me personally, he remains a father,
mentor, comrade in arms and my leader.”
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| Mr. Robert Mugabe dead at age 95 |
In a tweet this morning announcing the demise of Mr. Mugabe, President Mnangagwa said of the man he had helped bring down:
“It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing
on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe…….Cde
Mugabe was 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.”
Read More Links:
DEATH OF A TYRANT Robert Mugabe dead – Brutal Zimbabwe president whose bloody reign of terror crippled his country dies aged 95
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All rights reserved by Tom Okure, Ph.D President and CEO of Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc (or ICMS, Inc). The information included in this article may not be used, reproduced, transmitted, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written permission of ICMS, Inc. The author Dr. Tom Okure is President of ICMS, Inc, a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York. Dr. Okure is a writer, author, business/management consultant, public policy advisor and commentator and a change advocate.
