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'''Robert Mugabe''' was the repressive dictator of [[Zimbabwe]] from December 31, 1987 to November 21, 2017. Zimbabwe was previously a [[British]] colony, Southern Rhodesia, and a short-lived Republic, known as [[Rhodesia]].<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html</ref> He violently oppressed anyone who opposed his government. He has cracked down on dissidents and violently seized farms – seizures that led to much of the land becoming desolate as those who took the land knew about guns, not farming.  A black nationalist, he eventually established one-party rule in his country, becoming Executive President of Zimbabwe in 1987 with his [[Marxism|Marxist]] "Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front" (ZANU-PF).<ref>http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9054151/Robert-Mugabe</ref>  

'''Robert Mugabe''' was the repressive dictator of [[Zimbabwe]] from December 31, 1987 to November 21, 2017. Zimbabwe was previously a [[British]] colony, Southern Rhodesia, and a short-lived Republic, known as [[Rhodesia]], before Mugabe took control.<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html</ref> He violently oppressed anyone who opposed his government. He cracked down on dissidents and violently seized farms – seizures that led to much of the land becoming desolate as those who took the land knew about guns, not farming.  A black nationalist, he eventually established one-party rule in his country, becoming Executive President of Zimbabwe in 1987 with his [[Marxism|Marxist]] "Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front" (ZANU-PF).<ref>http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9054151/Robert-Mugabe</ref>  

In his 37 years in power, he went from the poster boy for the "New [[Africa]]", ruled by educated, democratic leaders, to the bottom of the heap.  Under his rule, the health and well-being of his people have dropped dramatically, with his arbitrary arrests and torture of anyone considered to be an opponent.  According to the [[World Health Organization]], Zimbabwe has the world’s shortest life expectancy - 37 years for men and 34 for women. It also has the greatest percentage of orphans, about 25%, says [[UNICEF]], and the worst annual inflation rate. Mugabe last won a "free" election in 2002 but “won” only after having his leading opponent arrested for treason. Mugabe attempted to oust Morgan Tsvangirai from the political scene in 2008, however, he failed and Mugabe lost to Tsvangirai, but refused to step down. The Zimbabwe parliament has forced Mugabe to accept Tsvangirai as his Prime Minister, a post Mugabe previously removed. {{who says}}

In his 37 years in power, he went from the poster boy for the "New [[Africa]]", ruled by educated, democratic leaders, to the bottom of the heap.  Under his rule, the health and well-being of his people have dropped dramatically, with his arbitrary arrests and torture of anyone considered to be an opponent.  According to the [[World Health Organization]], Zimbabwe has the world’s shortest life expectancy – 37 years for men and 34 for women. It also had the greatest percentage of orphans, about 25%, according to [[UNICEF]], and the worst annual inflation rate. Mugabe last won a "free" election in 2002 but "won" only after having his leading opponent arrested for treason. Mugabe attempted to oust Morgan Tsvangirai from the political scene in 2008, however, he failed and Mugabe lost to Tsvangirai, but refused to step down. The Zimbabwe parliament forced Mugabe to accept Tsvangirai as his Prime Minister, a post Mugabe previously removed. {{who says}}

== Rise to Power ==

== Rise to Power ==