Robert Mugabe: African Leaders Mourn a Liberator & Statesman

By Fred Kiva

Africa is mourning following the death of former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

Aged 95, Mugabe died on Friday morning in Gleneagles hospital, Singapore where he has been receiving treatment since April. He was ousted in a military coup in 2017 after 37 years in power. News of his death shocked not only Zimbabwe, the country that he founded but also the entire Africa which viewed him as an icon in ending colonialism.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party on Friday described the late Zimbabwean former President as a great statesman who stood for unity in Africa. “Cde Robert Mugabe devoted his life to the service of his people and his country. Throughout his life, Mugabe was an ardent and vocal advocate of the African unity and will be remembered for his rallying war cry ‘Africa is for Africans and Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans,’” South African media quoted ANC General Secretary Ace Magashule as saying.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa mourned Mugabe, hailing him as a liberation fighter and champion of Africa’s cause against colonialism.

In Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered flags to fly at half-mast as a sign of national mourning over the death of the former Zimbabwe President. The period of national mourning will run from dawn on Saturday until sunset on Monday.

Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli said Africa has lost a brave leader and a statesman who resisted colonialism in action. “I have received with deep sadness news of the death of retired President and Father of Zimbabwe elder Robert Mugabe,” President Mugufuli tweeted in Swahili. “Africa has lost one of the brave leaders, an African statesman who resisted colonialism in action. May God place his spirit in a beautiful place, in paradise, Amen,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mugabe’s Successor and former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, expressed his "utmost sadness", calling Mr Mugabe "an icon of liberation". “It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe.” Mr. Mnangagwa had been Mr. Mugabe's deputy before replacing him following a military coup in 2017.

In Uganda, several personalities have come out to eulogize the former Zimbabwe leader describing him a hero whose fight against imperialists is undisputed. President Yoweri Museveni posted on his social media on Friday, "I learnt this morning about the passing of an African liberation icon & great Pan-Africanist, His Excellency Robert Mugabe. I join @edmnangagwa , the people of Zimbabwe and the entire African continent in mourning the demise of this great son of Africa. May his soul rest in peace." 

Senior Presidential Advisor Special Operations Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. “Mzee Mugabe was a liberation icon. His contribution to the defeat of racism and colonialism in Zimbabwe is undisputable. He was a great believer and defender of Africa,” Gen Kainerugaba tweeted.

Mugabe was born on 21 February 1924 in what was then Rhodesia - a British colony, run by its white minority. After criticizing the government of Rhodesia in 1964 he was imprisoned for more than a decade without trial. In 1973, while still in prison, he was chosen as president of the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), of which he was a founding member.

Once released, he headed to Mozambique, from where he directed guerrilla raids into Rhodesia but he was also seen as a skilled negotiator. Political agreements to end the crisis resulted in the new independent Republic of Zimbabwe. With his high profile in the independence movement, Mr. Mugabe secured an overwhelming victory in the republic's first election in 1980.