Robert Mugabe turns 93

PRESIDENT Mugabe turns 93 today with the ruling Zanu-PF party describing him as a visionary leader, liberator and champion of education and empowerment.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo said President Mugabe is among a rare breed of politicians and the party views him as a gift from God.

"We as a party are very privileged to have President Mugabe as our President and First Secretary," he said.

"We see his long life as a gift from God. God has been kind to us as a country and also kind to him that he has given him a long life, wisdom, integrity and strong principles. He does not change his views simply because he wants to please every Jack and Jill, no, he has dedicated his entire life to the service of this country.

"Such men are rare and we are very proud that such an icon is the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF and we really wish him a happy birthday and hope that God will continue to bless him and that he continues to be with us."

Zanu-PF Secretary for Youth Affairs, Kudzai Chipanga, said they regard President Mugabe's birthday as an event of paramount importance.

"We as young people regard these celebrations of the President's birthday as of paramount importance given the fact that we view our President as a role model for young Zimbabweans and Africans at large," said Chipanga.

The Zanu-PF Women's League paid tribute to President Mugabe for his people-driven policies aimed at uplifting and empowering the majority black people.

The organ's Secretary for Information and Publicity, Thokozile Mathuthu, said they were fully behind President Mugabe's candidature in the 2018 elections.

"As the Women's League national executive and Zimbabwean women in general, we say congratulations President Mugabe for turning 93 and we wish God could continue blessing you with good health and many more years," she said.

Mathuthu, who is also the deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, said the organ was fully behind President Mugabe whom she described as a wise leader with a deep understanding of issues.

"We will be fully behind him again in 2018 when he stands as our presidential candidate in the national elections," she said.

"We would also like to pay tribute to the late Bona Mugabe who gave birth to this brilliant and highly intelligent child. We are certain that she is smiling from heaven at the strides made by her son to uplift his people."

This year's celebrations will be held at the Rhodes Preparatory School (Reps) in Matobo district, Matabeleland South on Saturday under the theme, "Honouring our icon, unlocking value in youth."


Below is a timeline of the President's history and some of his numerous achievements thus far:

21 February 1924

Robert Grabriel Mugabe is born at Kutama Village in Zvimba district. He is the third of six children born to Gabriel Matibili Mugabe and Bona Mugabe.

He grows up herding his father's cattle in Zvimba and takes charge of the family at an early age after the death of his siblings Michael and Raphael and the relocation of their father to Bulawayo. For his early education, he goes to Kutama College where he excels in school under the Jesuits priests and guidance of Father Jerome O'Hea.

1941

Mugabe is offered a place in teacher training at Kutama, where he attains a diploma.

1949

He wins a scholarship to study at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa's Eastern Cape. There, he joins the African National Congress, and attends African nationalist meetings, where he meets a number of Jewish South African communists who introduce him to Marxist ideas.

In later years he describes his time at Fort Hare as the "turning-point" in his life.

1951

Mugabe attains a Bachelor of Arts (History and English) degree from the University of Fort Hare.

1955

He moves to Northern Rhodesia, there, he teaches for four years at Chalimbana Training College while also working towards his Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Economics through correspondence courses with the University of London.


1958

Mugabe moves to Ghana where he becomes interested in Marxism and nationalism. He meets his first wife Sarah (Sally) Hayfron while teaching at St Mary's Teacher Training College.

In tandem with his teaching, from 1958 to 1960 Mugabe attends the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute in Winneba. He says it was during his time in Ghana that he finally embraced belief in Marxism.

1960

He returns home to Southern Rhodesia to an oppressive colonial system and he easily finds himself involved with nationalists' politics.

He chairs the inaugural congress of the National Democratic Party in October and is chosen Secretary for Information and Publicity.

1961

Mugabe marries his first wife, Sarah Francesca Hayfron, a Ghanaian teacher.

1963

He, together with Ndabaningi Sithole and other nationalists like Leopold Takawira, Edgar Tekere, Morton Malianga, Enos Nkala and Maurice Nyagumbo, form the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu) after differences emerged within Zapu about how the struggle against the white settler regime would be prosecuted.

August 1964 to December 1975

He is arrested and spends the next 11 years in prison, a period he uses to improve his education. He gains several further degrees from London University: an MSc in economics, a Bachelor of Administration, and two law degrees.

His first and only child with Sally Hayfron, Nhamodzenyika, dies at age three from cerebral malaria in 1966. He was denied permission to bury his son by the regime of Ian Smith.

1975

After being released from prison, Mugabe moves to Mozambique, accompanied by Tekere and Chief Rekayi Tangwena and assumes leadership of Zanu after the famous Mgagao Declaration signed by guerrillas at Mgagao camp in Tanzania.

1976

He leads a delegation to the abortive independence talks in Malta. By mid-1976, Mugabe gains the allegiance of commanders of Zanla, the military wing of Zanu, and achieves dominance over Zanu, establishing himself as the most prominent black guerrilla leader battling Smith's regime.

1977

He is elected the president of Zanu during the party's congress in exile at Chimoio, Mozambique.

1979

Mugabe leads Zanu to the Lancaster House conference in London that ended the 15-year liberation war.

1980

British rule ends and Mugabe becomes Prime Minister of the new Republic of Zimbabwe. He pronounces the policy of national reconciliation thus restoring confidence and peace enabling national reconstruction.

1981

As the country's first black Prime Minister on January 1, he calls for free primary education for all pupils and guarantees admission to secondary schools for all those who qualified.

He is one of the most educated presidents in the world as he holds seven academic degrees and 11 honorary awards from different universities.
1982-1986

He leads the country and makes great strides in education, health care and provisions of social services are achieved under his watch.
December 22, 1987

Mugabe signs the Unity Accord with-PF-Zapu leader Dr Joshua Nkomo, which ends disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands regions which had been experienced since the early 1980s. This results in a united Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).

December, 30, 1987

Mugabe becomes Executive President of Zimbabwe. Cdes Joshua Nkomo and Simon Muzenda become Vice Presidents.

1988

The President implements a five-year development plan, which eases price restrictions for farmers, allowing them to designate their own prices for their produce. This greatly improves the economy.

1989

He is awarded the Africa Prize for leadership for the sustainable end of hunger by US-Based Hunger Project. He uses the $100 000 prize money to launch the National Agricultural Scholarship Fund.

1991

Zimbabwe hosts the 1991 Commonwealth Heads of State Meeting (CHOGM) Summit and President Mugabe assumes chairmanship of CHOGM for the next three years.

1992

President Mugabe's first wife Sarah Hayfron, popularly known as Sally, dies from a kidney ailment.

He assumes chairmanship of the World Frontline States in March and leads the OAU ad hoc committee in Angola.

1994

The end of the five-year development plan period, the economy reflects some growth in the farming, mining and manufacturing industries. President Mugabe additionally manages to build clinics and schools for the black population.

1995

He is conferred chairmanship of the World Solar Commission in March and he assumes chairmanship of the G15 in November. President Mugabe is also awarded the Olympic Order of Gold for his eminent contribution to the Olympic ideals.

1996

He hosts and is elected chairman of 101 strong Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in September.

The President is awarded the Order of Jamaica and hosts the World Solar Summit and he is elected first chairman of the Sadc Organ on Defence, Politics and Security.

He marries his second wife, First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe in August.

1997

In June, Zimbabwe hosts the Organisation of African Unity Summit and President Mugabe assumes chairmanship of the continental body.

February 2000

War veterans occupy white-owned commercial farms after voters rejected a draft constitution which had the clause aimed at addressing the colonial imbalances in the ownership of land.  The newly-formed opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change, had mobilised voters to reject the draft, and was supported by the white commercial farmers.  President Mugabe declines to send police or the army to remove the war veterans from the farms arguing that the land question was the reason why they took up arms against the Smith regime and thus needed to be addressed.  This marks the beginning of the fast-track land redistribution programme which saw more than 300 000 households being resettled.

2002

President Mugabe is re-elected as President.

September 2008

As a result of the June 2008 vote, there is tension between political parties, resulting in talks aimed at bringing them together.  The talks brokered by then South African President Thabo Mbeki result in a power-sharing Government of National Unity comprising representatives from Zanu-PF,  the MDC-T led by Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC led by Professor Arthur Mutambara.  President Mugabe retains his position as President while Mr Tsvangirai becomes Prime Minister.  Prof Mutambara comes in as Deputy Prime Minister.

February 2009

The GNU is sworn into office.

July 31, 2013

The five year-tenure of the GNU ends, leading to fresh elections.  President Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party win overwhelmingly, resulting in the abandoning of the GNU.  President Mugabe and Zanu-PF form the new government.

October 2013

President Mugabe launches the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset).  The blueprint is aimed at attaining sustainable socio-economic transformation in the four key clusters which are: Food security and nutrition; Social services and poverty reduction; Infrastructure and utilities; and Value addition and beneficiation.

2014

President Mugabe is elected as Sadc chairperson.

2015

He is elected chairman of the Africa Union. He helps the continent to become more assertive and continues to protect the continent's resources.  He leads the discourse on the industrialisation of the continent and resource nationalism.

2016

President Mugabe is re-elected as Zanu-PF's sole candidate for the 2018 presidential elections at the Zanu-PF people's congress.

He is the current President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF.