Robert Mugabe | |
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Mugabe on a visit to Moscow in May 2015
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President of Zimbabwe | |
Assumed office 22 December 1987 |
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Prime Minister | Morgan Tsvangirai (2009–2013) |
Vice President |
Joshua Nkomo (1987–1999) Simon Muzenda (1987–2003) Joseph Msika (1999–2009) Joice Mujuru (2004–2014) John Nkomo (2009–2013) Emmerson Mnangagwa (2014–) Phelekezela Mphoko (2014–) |
Preceded by | Canaan Banana |
Prime Minister of Zimbabwe | |
In office 18 April 1980 – 22 December 1987 |
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President | Canaan Banana |
Deputy | Simon Muzenda |
Preceded by | Abel Muzorewa (Zimbabwe Rhodesia) |
Succeeded by | Morgan Tsvangirai (2009) |
13th Chairperson of the African Union | |
In office 30 January 2015 – 30 January 2016 |
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Preceded by | Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz |
Succeeded by | Idriss Déby |
Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement | |
In office 6 September 1986 – 7 September 1989 |
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Preceded by | Zail Singh |
Succeeded by | Janez Drnovšek |
Personal details | |
Born |
Robert Gabriel Mugabe 21 February 1924 Kutama, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) |
Political party | National Democratic Party (1960–1961) Zimbabwe African People's Union (1961–1963) Zimbabwe African National Union (1963–1987) Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (1987–present) |
Spouse(s) |
Sally Hayfron (1961–1992; her death) Grace Marufu (1996–present) |
Children | Nhamodzenyika (deceased) Bona Robert Peter Bellarmine Chatunga |
Education | Kutama College |
Alma mater |
University of Fort Hare University of South Africa University of London |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Signature |
Robert Gabriel Mugabe (/muːˈɡɑːbiː/; Shona IPA: [muɡaɓe]; born 21 February 1924) is a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who has governed the Republic of Zimbabwe as its President since 1987, having previously governed as its Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he has led the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party since 1975.
A Shona, Mugabe was born to a poor family in Kutama, Southern Rhodesia. Following an education at Kutama College and the University of Fort Hare he worked as a teacher in Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Ghana. Angered that Southern Rhodesia was a British colony governed by a white elite, Mugabe embraced Marxism and joined African nationalist protests calling for an independent state with a black-led government. After making anti-government comments he was convicted of sedition and imprisoned between 1964 and 1974. On release he fled to Mozambique, established his leadership of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), and oversaw ZANU activities during the Rhodesian Bush War to overthrow the white-minority Rhodesian government of Ian Smith. He reluctantly took place in the peace negotiations brokered by the United Kingdom that resulted in the Lancaster House Agreement. The agreement dismantled white-minority rule and resulted in the 1980 general election, at which Mugabe led ZANU-PF to victory and became Prime Minister. Rhodesia was renamed Zimbabwe and despite Mugabe's professed Marxist desire to create a socialist society, his administration adhered to conservative economic policies.