Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has died aged 95. He died in hospital in Singapore after battling ill health. It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwes founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe (1/2) — President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) September 6, 2019 Mugabe was ousted from power in a military coup in November 2017 and replaced by his former deputy Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. His death was announced Friday morning by his successor, Mnangagwa. “It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwes founding father and former President, Comrade Robert Mugabe,” Mnangagwa tweeted. Mnangagwa described Mugabe as “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.” Zimbabwes education secretary Fadzayi Mahere, also tweeted: “Rest In Peace, Robert Mugabe. My response to your passing is complicated. I’m going to write a long piece. However, for now, deepest condolences to his family.” The late Robert Gabriel Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as his country’s Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. Mugabe chaired the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), a militant organisation that fought against white minority rule in the then Rhodesia, formed as a split from the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU), from 1975 to 1980. He also led its successor political party, the ZANU – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF), the political party which has been ruling party of Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. In November 2017, Mugabe was ousted from power in a military coup that ended his three-decade rule. Mugabe was largely regarded as a hero of Africa’s independence struggle. Despite controversies in his last years in power, many Zimbabweans still adored the old leader as they remembered and admired his fight to keep Zimbabwe an independent and sovereign nation. Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924, in Kutama, Southern Rhodesia. He was imprisoned for more than 10 years without trial after criticising the government of Rhodesia in 1964. In 1973, while in prison, he was chosen as president of the ZANU, of which he was a founding member. Protais Musoni, the chairperson of the Pan African Movement (PAM) – Rwanda Chapter, paid tribute to Mugabe, describing him as “consistent Pan Africanist who led his country to independence.” “He was a brave liberation hero who exposed the insensitivity of the world order to the suffering of ordinary people by imposing devastating economic sanctions,” he told The New Times. Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information, is quoted as saying: “Yes it is really saddening. Some of us were like his children to him. We can never write our history without mentioning him.” Nelson Chamisa, the President of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main opposition party in the southern African country, said there is so much to say for a life of 95 years and national leadership spanning over 37 years “but in the true spirit of Ubuntu, we would like to give this moment to mourning but there will be time for greater reflection.” The MDC leader tweeted: “Even though I and our party, the MDC, and the Zimbabwean people had great political differences with the late former President during his tenure in office, and disagreed for decades, we recognise his contribution made during his lifetime as a nation’s founding President.”
