Born on February 24, 1924, the former president of Zimbabwe, Mr. Robert Mugabe died on Friday, September 6, 2019 in Singapore where he had gone for treatment since April.
He founded a resistance movement against British colonial rule, which led to Rhodesia becoming the independent Zimbabwe.
He chaired the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) from 1975 to 1980 and led its successor political party, the ZANU – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF), from 1980 to 2017.
Ideologically, Mugabe was a pan-Africanist in the 1970s and 1980s.
He was identified as a Marxist–Leninist, although after the 1990s self-identified only as a socialist.
He was a revolutionary and politician who first served as prime minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017 when the military eased him out of power and paved the way for the emergence of the incumbent president, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Following his death, there has been a flurry of reactions across the world. Here are some.
Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari
“The President commiserates with family members, friends and political associates of the political activist who fought for the independence of the country from colonial rule, and lived most of his life in public service.
“President Buhari believes Mugabe’s sacrifices, especially in struggling for the political and economic emancipation of his people, will always be remembered by posterity.”
Former Nigerian vice president, Mr. Atiku Abubakar
“Robert Mugabe was a hero of the African liberation struggle. No man is perfect and he had his flaws, but nobody can take this fact away from him: That he loved his country and its people, and took practical and patriotic steps to improve their well-being.
“Mr. Mugabe gave Zimbabwe freedom, which in itself is commendable. Yet, he gave them something greater than freedom. He gave them education.
“His razor-like focus on investing in education resulted in Zimbabwe having the highest adult literacy rate in Africa.
“One can even say he emancipated the minds of Zimbabweans. Other African leaders can learn from him in this regard.
“As he passes away aged 95, Robert Mugabe lived a long life and cast an even longer shadow. His footsteps in the sands of times are indelible, even as they are very far reaching.
“As African leaders, we have a lot to learn from his many successes, and even more to learn from his inevitable mistakes.
“My condolences to the government and people of Zimbabwe. My heartfelt sympathies to his family. May his soul rest in peace and may God forgive his sins.”
Former secretary general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku
Anyaoku said he first met Mugabe in 1976 in Geneva as leader of his liberation party ZANU at the unsuccessful conference initiated by the then British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, to explore agreement between the Rhodesian white minority regime of Ian Smith and the liberation parties, led by Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo and Ndabaningi Sithole.
“He was in the early years of his leadership of Zimbabwe an undoubted promoter of the welfare and rights of his people, who had suffered oppression and land sequestration under the white minority regimes of Rhodesia.”
“I was then Assistant Commonwealth Secretary-General. And I associated closely with him from 1980 when he began his leadership of independent Zimbabwe up to the end of my 10-year tenure as Commonwealth Secretary-General in 2000.”
“But as he overstayed his time as President, he began to pursue policies that negated his earlier stance on discipline and respect of human rights; hence the evident celebration by his compatriots of his overthrow and replacement by Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2017.”
Zimbabwean president, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa
“Cde (Comrade) 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.”
South African president, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa
“South Africans join the people and government of Zimbabwe in mourning the passing of a liberation fighter and champion of Africa’s cause against colonialism.
“Under President Mugabe’s leadership, Zimbabwe’s sustained and valiant struggle against colonialism inspired our own struggle against apartheid and built in us the hope that one day South Africa too would be free.
“During the decades of our own struggle, Zimbabwe’s liberation movement supported our own liberation movement to fight oppression on multiple fronts. After Zimbabwe achieved independence, the apartheid state brutalized and violated Zimbabwe as punishment for supporting our own struggle.”
Kenyan president, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta
“In this moment of sorrow, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his relatives and the people of Zimbabwe who, for many years, he served with commitment and dedication.
“Words cannot convey the magnitude of the loss as former President Mugabe was an elder statesman, a freedom fighter and a Pan-Africanist who played a major role in shaping the interests of the continent … a man of courage who was never afraid to fight for what he believed in even when it was not popular.”
Leader of South African opposition party, The Economic Freedom Fighters, Mr. Julius Malema
“I’m saddened by the passing of our martyr & giant of the African Revolution (comrade) President Robert Mugabe. Let’s continue to fight & protect his legacy. We must not allow our enemies to tell us how to remember him; we know our heroes.
“May his soul rest in revolutionary peace.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Mr. Geng Shuang
Geng said Mugabe was an outstanding liberation movement leader and statesman for Zimbabwe who had defended his country’s independence, opposed foreign interference and promoted good cooperation with China.
“We are deeply saddened by his passing and express sincere sympathies to the Zimbabwean people, government and to Mr. Mugabe’s family.”
