about Robert Mugabe? g

> Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Gabriel Mugabe was the world’s oldest head of state and one of the longest-serving authoritarian rulers at the time he left office.

> First heralded as a liberator who rid the former British colony Rhodesia of white minority rule, he was later criticised for ruthless repression of dissent, election rigging, and for causing the country’s economic collapse.

> The former political prisoner turned guerrilla leader swept to power in the 1980 elections after a violent insurgency and economic sanctions forced the Rhodesian government to the negotiating table.

> On Feb 21 this year, he celebrated his 93rd birthday while still in a political career that included several assassination attempts. > Mugabe’s second wife and former secretary Grace, 52, was seen as his successor r before a military coup p confined the couple to the eir lavish “Blue Roof” mansion compound on Nov 14. > Sacked as the leader of Zimbabwe’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party, he was replaced by the deputy he dismissed: Emmerson Mnangagwa, 75.

> After 37 years in power, he resigned as president on Nov 21 as parliament began impeachment proceedings against him. Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s president on

Nov 24.