Farewell, Mugabe — but few will mourn his passing
Robert Mugabe, who died in hospital in Singapore this week, was a man of many contradictions. He remains one of Africa’s liberation heroes, who gained popularity by preaching racial reconciliation. Yet to many he was a tyrant and an oppressor who was ruthless in pursuing those opposed to his policies and who showed no mercy to dissidents. Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, including his seven-year term as prime minister immediately after independence, when Canaan Banana held the presidency as a largely ceremonial post. He rose to prominence as a young and vibrant freedom fighter, playing a leading role in the liberation struggle that led to Zimbabwe attaining its freedom in 1980.
He clung to office despite growing resentment towards him in the latter years of his rule, and stepped down only after his own comrades staged the November 2017 coup.
His death was met with mixed reactions. While other political strongmen such as Vladimir Putin of Russia hailed him as a hero, back home there were widespread celebrations. This should be no surprise.
During his life he was a polarising figure, albeit one who loomed large in African and global politics. Initially, at least, he was loved by many in Zimbabwe and the wider region, but further afield he was an object of disgust. The Commonwealth, for example, suspended Zimbabwe in 2002, prompting Mugabe to quit the organisation the following year.
While many would love Mugabe to be remembered as a freedom fighter par excellence who left an indelible mark in the struggle against colonialism, sadly the reality is that he will go down in history as a despot who presided over a murderous regime.
Thousands of Zimbabweans opposed to his regressive policies were killed and millions were driven into exile. His land reform programme resulted in “war veterans” — many of whom were infants during the struggle — forcibly evicting whites from their farms. Zimbabwe was once seen as a breadbasket for the region. Mugabe’s backward policies destroyed all that promise.