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Mugabe was a symbol of liberation, concerned with Africa, and dedicated his life to the liberation and empowerment of his people. May his soul rest in eternal peace. ”In these words, Zimbabwe's current president, Emerson Mnangagwa, declared the death of former President Robert Mugabe, who had been in power for more than 37 years, to take one of the The longest rule in the continent and the world.

Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist, died today in a Singapore hospital, where he was being treated for an undisclosed disease since April.

The former Zimbabwean president has been traveling to Singapore regularly for treatment during his rule, and also since his ouster in a military coup in 2017, replaced by his former vice president, Manangagua.

Mugabe known for his iron fist and bloody approach against his opponents (Reuters)

The "fighter" leader
After the announcement of his death, the condolences of African leaders poured in. The South African government sent its condolences over the death of a "fearless fighter for liberation throughout Africa". Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta mourned "a brave man who never feared fighting for what he believed in, even if this was unpopular."

His opponents within Zimbabwe also offered their condolences.``He was one of the giants of the scene in Zimbabwe, and his lasting positive legacy will be his role in ending white minority rule and expanding quality education to all Zimbabweans, '' said David Coltart, an opposition lawmaker and rights lawyer.

Former government minister Jonathan Moyo also commented on the death, saying: "A black cloud has clouded Zimbabwe and is beyond Zimbabwe."

Since taking office after Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, Mugabe has turned from a champion of independence close to the West to an authoritarian who has practiced bloody repression against political dissent and caused a steady collapse of his country's economy.

The African leader, who once said "Only the Lord can remove me from power," took office in 1980, after a long struggle against the white regime led by Jan Smith, and on December 30, 1987, became president.

At the beginning of his reign he pursued a policy of reconciliation in order to preserve the unity of the country, which brought him the praise of everyone, especially Western capitals, but the Western support was dissipated and turned to condemn as a result of his bloody repression of the opposition, and witnessed his rule of violence and electoral fraud and the policy of land reform exciting Controversy he started in 2000.

Thousands of white farmers were expelled from their land for the benefit of black farmers by his own order, and this reform was justified by the desire to correct the inequalities inherited from British colonialism.

But it was in the interest of those close to the regime and farmers without equipment or training, causing the collapse of agricultural production in a country that was the southern African grain store, provoking a catastrophic crisis that Zimbabwe's economy has yet to recover.

Mugabe's second wife Grace has in recent years revealed her ambitions to succeed her husband as president (Reuters)

the first lady
After his first wife Sally died in 1992 of cancer, his second wife, Grace, 40 years old, was involved in scandals abroad, in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, most recently in South Africa, when she was beaten in August 2017 by a model. Young woman.

Far from her role as Zimbabwe's first lady, Grace has been running several failed mining companies and owns dairy farms set up on five farms previously owned by white farmers.

In 2014, she began to reveal her ambition to succeed her husband as head of state.He became head of the political office of the ruling African National Party (ANP) and received a doctorate from the University of Zimbabwe, although she registered for the degree shortly before.

During Mugabe's rule, Zimbabwe became a pariah state, from which many international investors and creditors shied away.

After being elected President in 1987, he was re-elected in 1990, re-elected in 1996, 2002 and 2008, and in August 2013 he was re-elected for a seventh term.

European Union member states have agreed to boycott his inauguration after his controversial election victory, and Britain has blamed him for violence against opposition leaders in his country.

On August 3, 2013, Mugabe was officially declared the winner of the presidential election with 61% of the vote, while 34% went to his rival Morgan Tsvangirai.

Emerson Mnangagwa succeeded Mugabe in power in 2017 after his resignation following an army-led coup (Getty Images)


Accusations of racism
London subsequently passed sanctions against Zimbabwe, within the Commonwealth Group and with US and Australian support, but the group's African countries rejected the British decision.

In 2003, the US Congress passed sanctions against Mugabe's government, accusing it of racism. Since 2002, the European Union has taken a decision to prevent Mugabe from dissolving any EU country.

In November 2017, Mugabe was forced to resign following an army coup with the support of his ZANU-PF party, leaving the country mired in a severe economic crisis that continues to worsen.

In recent years, he has made many secret visits to Singapore, Dubai and elsewhere to undergo "routine medical examinations," which have been described as "private visits," according to official data, before he was announced today at the age of 95.