Robert Mugabe: A tale of conflicting legacies

Last week news emerged of the demise of Robert Mugabe, former president of Zimbabwe. In April Mugabe, 95, was flown to Singapore in poor health and was hospitalised.
In recognition of Mugabe’s long tenure that spanned almost 40 years, three days of mourning was declared for Zimbabwe’s first post-independence leader.
But British broadcaster BBC reported that Leo Mugabe, a close family member, said Mugabe died a bitter man.

“Imagine people you trusted for almost 40 years, people that were guarding you, looking after you, suddenly turning against you. He (Mugabe) has died very bitter, having been betrayed, ousted out of power, denting his legacy, it was not an easy thing,” Leo reportedly said.
In death, Mugabe’s status was raised to “national hero”. Preparations are in high gear for a state funeral at his rural homestead in Mashonaland West Province, 50 miles from the capital Harare.

Although arrangements are in place for a befitting funeral for the former head of state, it seems Mugabe’s long presidency might be remembered by ordinary citizens as a period of significant failures, economic hardships, poverty and violence.

In 2017, Mugabe’s presidency came to an end abruptly when his second in command, Emmerson Mnangagwa (current president of Zimbabwe), was fired and it was rumoured that Ms Grace Mugabe would soon be appointed as deputy with the aim of becoming her husband’s successor.
Almost two years later, there are still mixed reactions about Mugabe’s reign. It seems many people are divided on the former president’s legacy.

According to The Economist, Mugabe’s career can be divided into three main parts; First, as an extraordinarily skilful leader who managed to dominate a fractious nationalist movement opposed to the White-supremacist Rhodesia rule.

Second, as a legitimate if increasingly flawed ruler from independence in 1980 until his humiliating defeat in a constitutional referendum in 2000. And third as a blood-stained dictator who ruled by rigging elections and torturing his opponents.

By startling contradiction, in East Africa there is a slightly different perception on Mugabe’s legacy. According to president of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, “Mr Mugabe played a major role in shaping the interests of the African continent,” and was “a man of courage who was never afraid to fight for what he believed in, even when it was not popular. Therefore, Kenya will fly all its flags at half-mast this [last] weekend in honour of Mr Mugabe.”

However, for many Zimbabweans their former president will be remembered more for his government’s disappointing performance, including poor service delivery and failure to meet basic needs.

Some people say Zimbabweans die every day from easily treatable diseases and millions of young men and women roam the streets with university degrees but no jobs.
In addition, the fact that the former president died in a foreign hospital in Singapore just goes give a more elaborate picture of the poor and deplorable conditions of Zimbabwe’s healthcare systems.

One could argue that Uganda faces similar challenges as Zimbabwe such as high levels of poverty, unemployment, rampart corruption and unsatisfactory service delivery.
But in the unfortunate case for Mugabe, in the end his last breath was taken in a foreign hospital, a significant determinant factor in summing up the unforgiving public opinion of the former president and his family.

Ms Victoria Nyeko is a media commentator.
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Twitter:@VictoriaNyeko