Nelson Mandela

Robert Gabriel Mugabe was A Man who divided the global Public Opinion like few others. To some

he was an evil dictator who should be at the end of His days in prison for crimes against humanity

To others, he was a revolutionary hero That fought racist oppression and stood up to Western imperialism and neo-colonialism.

On His own terms, he was undoubtedly a success.

at First , he supplied the independence to Zimbabwe After decades of white minority rule.

He then stayed in power for 37 years - and outlast His greatest enemies and competitors such as Tony Blair , George W. Bush, Joshua Nkomo , Morgan Tsvangirai , and Nelson Mandela .

And he destroyed the economic power of Zimbabwe 's white community, on their power over The Land , the fertile Land .

But His countrymen - with the exception of a small, well-connected Elite - The Price Paid , with the destruction of what had once been one of Africa 's most diversified economy.

In the end, then came back to to haunt Him .

The jubilation on The Streets of Harare, the greeted His forced resignation in November of 2017, echoed the jubilation in the same city of 37 years, in The Past , when it was announced he was the new leader of independent Zimbabwe .

Although he was allowed to see out His days in peace in His Harare mansion, it was not the end, he wanted That known, boasted: "Only God, who ordered me to remove me. "

of the people in Zimbabwe , to pursue The Reversal of its - and their - fortunes of His 1996 wedding to His Secretary, Grace Marufu, 41 years His junior, After the death of His well-respected First wife, Sally, in 1992.

"He died the moment Sally when he married a young gold-digger," according to Wilf Mbanga, editor-in-chief of The Zimbabwean newspaper That used to be close friends with Mr Mugabe.

the feeling was, long before anyone dreamed they might One Day have to harbour presidential ambitions, which were The Trigger for His close allies in the army and the ruling party, the Zanu-PF party to oust Mr Mugabe from power.

Although he was sometimes like a madman, That was far from The Truth . He was extremely intelligent and those who underestimated Him usually discovered this to their cost.

Stephen Chan , a professor at the London School of Oriental and African Studies, said Mr Mugabe had again and again embarrassing The West with its "skillful diplomacy".

"Cricket civilises people and creates good Gentlemen . I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe ; I want us to be a nation of Gentlemen " - no date

"Let the MDC and its leadership warned That those who play with Fire will be burnt, But consumed by the Fire " - 2003-election campaign

"We are not hungry. Why foist this food on us? We don't want to suffocate. We have Enough " - Interview with Sky TV in the year 2004, in the midst of widespread food shortages

"water, to Smoking, you need to eat exercise and vegetables and fruits" - Interview on His 88th birthday in 2012

"[Nelson] Mandela and [South Africa 's First Black President ] has gone a little too far, to do good to the non-black communities, really in some cases at the expense of [blacks]. This is too Holy, too good, too much of a Saint " - in 2013-state TV Interview

As a former political rival of Mr Mugabe, who went on to serve as His interior Minister, Dumiso Dabengwa , the different sides of Zimbabwe 's Founding Father is experiencing.

"Under normal circumstances, he would be very charming, But when he was angry, he was Something Else - if you crossed Him , he could certainly be ruthless," he told the BBC before His death in may 2019.

Mr Dabengwa said The President would often let Him win an argument about politics in the ten years they worked together, or would you agree, compromise is not the behavior of a dictator.

But some, he added, changed After 2000, and Mr Mugabe is trying, with threats to ensure That he got His Way .

"He's a compromising thought animal material than some of His colleagues, and, you know, you criminal law would be prosecuted, if you are against Him . "

This is not a picture recognised by Chen Chimutengwende, was in addition to Mr Mugabe and the Zanu-PF party and the government for 30 years.

"In all the time I worked with Him , I got Him vindictive never Seen or ill-treat anyone," he said.

"He went out to try to convince them, with its arguments, to A Man who sends His minions to beat them, if you felt did not agree with Him "

Mr Chimutengwende be Zimbabwe 's head of state was unfairly demonized by the Western media due to its policy of confiscation of Land from white farmers, whom he presumed to be influential advocates, particularly in the UK, where Many trace their roots

The year 2000 marked a turning point both in the history of Zimbabwe and the career of Mr Mugabe.

Until then, he was generally to achieve celebrated to in the direction of the white community After independence, while Zimbabwe 's economy faring was still pretty good.

After the arrival to power in 1980, Mr Mugabe has significantly expanded education and health care for black people in Zimbabwe and the country standard of living enjoyed far higher than its neighbors.

In 1995, a report by the World Bank praised Zimbabwe for rapid progress in the areas of health and education. Run by a former teacher, had the rates of the country to the highest literacy in Africa .

In her book, dinner With Mugabe, Heidi Hollande, Mr Mugabe-personal Trainer illiterate State House workers said, in order to help you pass exams.

Mr Mbanga, together remembers when listening to the new songs of the American country singer Jim Reeves .

"He was very loving, he was an intellectual. He liked to explain things like A Teacher ," said Mr Mbanga, But then saw a big change in His former friend.

"He went to try to convince you with His arguments, to A Man who sends His minions to beat you, if you don't agree with Him . "

In fact, The Warning signs were already there - The Massacre of thousands of ethnic Ndebeles, Seen as supporters of Mr Mugabe's rival Joshua Nkomo in the 1980s and the beginning of the economic crisis, But these were usually overlooked.

"Some say, he had us all fooled, I'm convinced That he's changed," says Mbanga said.

The Journalist says That in His early years as President, Mr Mugabe is believed to improve in the attempt, the life of His people, and the introduction of a "leadership code," which barred the Minister from the possession of too much property.

"Look at Him today, he is fabulously rich. He is not the person I used to know," Mr Mbanga said in may 2014.

In February 2000, the government lost a referendum on a draft Constitution.

With the parliamentary elections looming four months later, and a newly formed opposition party with close links to the "no" campaign is a serious threat to Mr Mugabe unleashed His personal Militia .

Some were real veterans of the 1970s war of independence, But the others were much younger.

TV footage of the white pawns in line to donate to The Movement for Democratic change (MDC), Mr Mugabe was able to portray the opposition as a stooge of the white community, and by extension the UK.

The Invasion of white-owned farms achieved a number of objectives, for Mr Mugabe and His allies:

There is a strong morality was certainly the argument That Land reform was necessary in Zimbabwe , But the way it was performed, was, undoubtedly, the top with political motivations.

21. February 1924: Born.

Source of news: bbc.com