Changes

'''Robert Mugabe''' has been the repressive dictator of [[Zimbabwe]] since December 31, 1987. Zimbabwe was previously a [[British]] colony, when it was known as [[Rhodesia]]. <ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html</ref> He violently oppresses anyone who opposes his government. He has cracked down on dissidents and violently seized farms from white (and many black) farm owners - 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''' has been the repressive dictator of [[Zimbabwe]] since December 31, 1987. Zimbabwe was previously a [[British]] colony, when it was known as [[Rhodesia]]. <ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html</ref> He violently oppresses anyone who opposes his government. He has cracked down on dissidents and violently seized farms from white (and many black) farm owners - 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 27 years in power, he has gone 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 (1,281% as of last month). He last allowed an election in 2002 but “won” only after having his leading opponent arrested for treason.

In his 27 years in power, he has gone 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. He last allowed an election in 2002 but “won” only after having his leading opponent arrested for treason.

The son of a village carpenter, Mugabe was trained as a teacher in a [[Roman Catholic]] mission.

Mugabe came into power after being one of the rebel leaders who fought against Rhodesia's [[apartheid]] regime. The various rebel groups, although not neccessarily ZANU, were given training, arms and political support by [[China]], the [[Soviet Union]], [[East Germany]], [[North Korea]], [[Mozambique]], [[Tanzania]], [[Cuba]], [[Lybia]], [[Ethiopia]] and the Communist Party of Great Britain. The [[UK]] and the [[UN]] did nothing, as Ian Smith, the apartheid regime's leader, had done absolutely nothing to endear himself to the world. Indeed, when faced with the prospect of having to grant equal rights and representation to the country's black citizens, he had responded by unilaterally declaring independence from [[Great Britain]]. Eventually, the British did step in and negotiated the Lancaster House agreement, which brought full democracy to Zimbabwe. Mugabe won the subsequent election - which was free and fair - by some margin, thus beginning his rule over the country.

 

 

Although nominally Marxist, Mugabe's policies are best described as the policies of extreme self-interest, where everything and anything goes as long as it serves to further entrench his grip on power. The democratic process has been reduced to a farce by ballot stuffing and voter intimidation, his redistribution of land from farmers to his cronies and supporters has resulted in disastrously low harvest, and his refusal to accept aid, advice or criticism from outside have led to a cholera epidemic and an annual inflation rate of approximately 516,000,000,000,000,000,000%<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/3451873/Zimbabwe-inflation-second-worst-in-history.html</ref>. Violence and fear have become ingrained into everyday life in the country, and all who oppose him are tarred with the tag of subversives and dealt with in brutal fashion.

*Marriage Date 00/08/1996  

*Marriage Date 00/08/1996  

*Children 2 son(s) 1 daughter(s)  

*Children 2 son(s) 1 daughter(s)  

*School Kutuma Mission School   

*School Kutuma Mission School

*Trained as a teacher in a [[Roman Catholic]] mission.