Robert Mugabe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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 (1924-02-21)21 February 1924 Kutama, Southern Rhodesia
Died	6 September 2019(2019-09-06) (aged 95) Singapore
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
Education	Kutama College
Alma mater	University of Fort Hare University of South Africa University of London
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Robert Gabriel Mugabe (21 February 1924 – 6 September 2019) was 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.

Mugabe was hospitalized in April 2019, making the last of several trips to Singapore for medical treatment. He died on 6 September 2019, at the age of 95.

Images for kids

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  Mugabe was inspired by the example set by Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah.

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  Nkomo became one of the leading figures of resistance to white minority rule in Southern Rhodesia.

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  While Mugabe was imprisoned, Ian Smith became leader of Rhodesia.

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  Mugabe in a meeting with Romanian communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu in 1976

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  Lancaster House in London's St James's district

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  Statues atop the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Heroes' Acre; the monument was designed by North Korean architects who reported directly to Mugabe

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  Mugabe with US president Ronald Reagan in 1983

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  Prime Minister Mugabe departs Andrews Air Force Base after a state visit to the United States in 1983

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  Mugabe in the Netherlands, 1982

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  British prime minister Tony Blair, with whom Mugabe had a particularly antagonistic relationship

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  Morgan Tsvangirai led the MDC to growing success in opposing Mugabe's regime in the 2000 parliamentary election.

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  Mugabe in 2008

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  Mugabe in 2011

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  Mugabe and his wife in 2013

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  Mugabe meeting Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2016

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  Mugabe meeting Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2015

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  Mugabe's first wife, Sally Hayfron, in 1983