"Our party must continue to strike fear in the heart of the white man, our real enemy! "

From Freedom Fighter to Despot!

Robert Mugabe was elected president of Zimbabwe in 1980. He is best known for leading the black nationalist struggle against the white minority government of Rhodesia, which was the name of the country under white rule.

Mugabe was raised at Kutama Mission, Zvimba District, northwest of Harare, and also Southern Rhodesia. He was educated in Jesuit schools and raised Roman Catholic. After college, Magube taught teacher-training school in Acca, Ghana. He met his first wife, Sally Hayfron, during his teaching.

Mugabe returned to Rhodesia in 1960 and joined the National Democratic Party, which became the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union. In 1963, he left the union to form a rival union, Zimbabwe African National Union with Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole. Sithole appointed Magabe Secretary General of ZANU.

Magabe and other national leaders were detained for ten years in 1964, where he studied law. When released, he left Rhodesia for Mozambique in 1974 and led a arm of ZANU in the war against Ian Smith's government.

In 1987 the position of Prime Minister was abolished in Zimbabwe, and Mugabe assumed the office of President and earned additional powers. In was elected again in 1990, 1996, and in 2002. During office, Mugabe has worked to improved health care and education for the black majority. He also ran a moral campaign against homosexuality, making it illegal with a 10 year prison sentence.

During the Land reform in Zimbabwe, around 70% of the land was arable, owned by approximately 4,000 descendants of whites. Mugabe, however, used force to transfer land ownership from whites to blacks. As a result, the country is no longer an exporter of food, rather the nation has severe food shortage. Initially, Mugabe favoured the "willing buyer, willing seller" aspects of redistribution, however, Tony Blair's Labour government decided to stop funding it. As a result, Mugabe has faced harsh attacks from Western countries including, the UK, the US, and Australia. Many groups believe he has committed human rights crimes against white landowners, and homosexuals.

In 2000, a referendum was held on the establishment of a new constitution. A change would have included a presidential term-limit of two terms. It also allowed the government to take control of white owned land for redistribution to black farmers. However, the referendum was defeated, after a low voter turn out. Afterwards, white-owned farms were invaded by a group led by Chenjerai Hunzvi.

On March 9, 2003, President Bush froze the assets of Zimbabwe politicians, and barred Americans from transactions or dealings with the country. A Bush spokesman commented, "the situation in Simbabwe endangers the southern African region and threatens to undermine efforts to foster good governance and respect for the rule of law throughout the continent." The bill was the "Zimbabwe Democracy Act." Mugabe deemed the act "racist."

Mugabe is one of Africa's longest-lasting leaders, many speculate the future of Zimbabwe after he leaves. His first wife, Sally, died of a chronic kidney ailment in 1992. Two years earlier, he married his former secretary, Grace, who is forty years his junior. The couple's marriage was regarded lawful under African traditions that allow him to take a junior wife. He and Grace have two children.