Robert Mugabe facts for kids

Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
	Mugabe on a visit to Moscow in May 2015
2nd President of Zimbabwe
	In office; 31 December 1987 – 21 November 2017
Prime Minister	Morgan Tsvangirai (2009–2013)
Vice President	Joshua Nkomo (1987–1999); Simon Muzenda (1987–2003); Joseph Msika (1999–2009); Joice Mujuru (2004–2014); John Nkomo (2009–2013); Emmerson Mnangagwa; (2014–2016); Phelekezela Mphoko; (2014–2017)
Preceded by	Canaan Banana
Succeeded by	Emmerson Mnangagwa (designate)
1st Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
	In office; 18 April 1980 – 22 December 1987
President	Canaan Banana
Deputy	Simon Muzenda
Preceded by	Abel Muzorewa; (Zimbabwe Rhodesia)
Succeeded by	Morgan Tsvangirai (2009)
13th Chairperson of the African Union
	In office; 30 January 2015 – 30 January 2016
Preceded by	Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
Succeeded by	Idriss Déby
Secretary-General of the Non-Aligned Movement
	In office; 6 September 1986 – 7 September 1989
Preceded by	Zail Singh
Succeeded by	Janez Drnovšek
Personal details
Born	Robert Gabriel Mugabe; 21 February 1924 (age 95); Kutama, Southern Rhodesia; (now Zimbabwe)
Political party	Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (1987–2017)
Other political; affiliations	National Democratic Party (1960–1961); Zimbabwe African People's Union (1961–1963); Zimbabwe African National Union (1963–1987)
Spouse(s)	Sally Hayfron (1961–1992; her death); Grace Marufu (1996–present)
Children	Nhamodzenyika (deceased); Bona; Robert Peter; Bellarmine Chatunga
Alma mater	University of Fort Hare; University of South Africa; University of London
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature

Robert Gabriel Mugabe (born 21 February 1924) is a Zimbabwean politician. He was the President of Zimbabwe from 1987 to 2017. Before that, he was Prime Minister, the head of government, after being elected in 1980. Many years before he resigned, Mugabe ruled his country in the style of a dictator.

His first years as leader were prosperous. He introduced land reforms, which were supposed to give the land claimed by white people back to the (original) black owners. This has had a serious impact on how the country is seen from outside. In recent years, Mugabe has allowed violence against the white citizens of the country as well as to opposition leaders of all races. The reforms were done in 1998. In 2001, the United Nations imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe. This was done because human rights abuses came to the attention of the United Nations.

On November 15, 2017, he was placed under house arrest as Zimbabwe's military took control in a coup. On November 21, 2017, Mugabe resigned as President of Zimbabwe. It ended his rule of 37 years.

Images for kids

Mugabe was inspired by the example set by Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah
Nkomo became one of the leading figures of resistance to white minority rule in Southern Rhodesia
While Mugabe was imprisoned, Ian Smith became leader of Rhodesia
Mugabe in a meeting with Romanian communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu in 1979
Lancaster House in London's West End
Mugabe on a visit to the Netherlands in 1979
Prime Minister Mugabe departs Andrews Air Force Base after a state visit to the United States in 1983
Mugabe in the Netherlands, 1982
The flag of ZAPU, which were largely eliminated by ZANU-PF in the Gukurahundi
Prime Minister Mugabe in 1982
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, with whom Mugabe had a particularly antagonistic relationship
Morgan Tsvangirai led the MDC to growing success in opposing Mugabe's regime in the 2000 parliamentary election
Mugabe in 2011
Mugabe in Ethiopia, 2009
Mugabe in 2008
Mugabe in 2009
Mugabe and his wife in 2013
Mugabe (centre) attending the Third India-Africa Forum in 2015
Mugabe meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015
Mugabe's first wife, First Lady Sally Hayfron, in 1983
Example of foreign criticism: a demonstration against Mugabe's regime next to the Zimbabwe embassy in London (mid-2006).