Robert Mugabe Tribute

Robert Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe for almost four decades, has died aged 95, leaving behind an indelible stain on his country’s human rights record, according to Amnesty International. His early years as leader of Zimbabwe, following the transition from British colonial rule, saw some notable achievements through his heavy investment in social services. Areas including health and education saw dramatic improvements, with the country still enjoying one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. However, he later eroded his own track record. During his 37 years in power, he presided over the brutal repression of political opponents and established a culture of impunity for himself and his cronies, while his government implemented a series of policies that have had disastrous consequences.

• Dr Webster Zambara, senior project leader: Peace building initiatives at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
• Advocate Sipho Mantula, researcher at the Institute for Dispute Resolutions in Africa