Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s first post-independence president, has died at the age of 95. Family sources said he died after battling ill health.
Mugabe was a hero in the struggle against colonial rule and his enormous efforts were instrumental in bringing about the end to colonial rule and independence for his country in 1980 through the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) party.
He led Zimbabwe from 1980 until he was ousted from power in a military coup in November 2017, ending his over 30- year rule.
Mugabe was born on 21 February 1924, in what was then Rhodesia. During the liberation struggle he imprisoned for more than a decade without trial after criticizing the government of Rhodesia in 1964. While serving his prison term he was chosen as president of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), of which he was a founding member
His reign became increasingly controversial in the last decade as he was criticized for abandoning the ideals of the struggle. He was in constant altercation with the West over his controversial policy of land seizure from White Zimbabwean farmers, which he said was to address the injustice done his people.
Details later…
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
