Hero now called Western pariah

HARARE – Africa’s oldest leader Robert Mugabe, the ex-guerrilla leader who has led Zimbabwe since independence, will need all his political street-fighting skills if he is to extend his 28-year rule this week.

The 84-year-old has maintained a stranglehold on power since 1980, re-elected with ease until 2002 when the first signs of what is now a full-blown economic crisis appeared. But when voters go to the polls tomorrow, a double challenge from his former finance minister Simba Makoni and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has led to predictions that one of Africa’s last strongmen could be nearing the end of the line.Not that Mugabe sees it that way.”It (an opposition victory) will never happen as long as we are still alive,” he said at a campaign rally.It was a typically defiant note from a man who has told his detractors in the West to “go hang” themselves, lambasted Makoni as a political prostitute and dismissed Tsvangirai as a British stooge.Since the European Union and United States imposed sanctions on his inner circle after he allegedly rigged his 2002 victory over Tsvangirai, Mugabe has sought to forge new relations with Asian countries such as China and India.”We have turned to the east where the sun rises,” he told supporters.”And given our backs to the west where the sun sets.”An intellectual who initially embraced Marxism, Mugabe was praised when he won the election that ended white minority rule in 1980, a few weeks after Zimbabwe gained independence.He was born on February 21, 1924.Nampa-AFPBut when voters go to the polls tomorrow, a double challenge from his former finance minister Simba Makoni and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has led to predictions that one of Africa’s last strongmen could be nearing the end of the line.Not that Mugabe sees it that way.”It (an opposition victory) will never happen as long as we are still alive,” he said at a campaign rally.It was a typically defiant note from a man who has told his detractors in the West to “go hang” themselves, lambasted Makoni as a political prostitute and dismissed Tsvangirai as a British stooge.Since the European Union and United States imposed sanctions on his inner circle after he allegedly rigged his 2002 victory over Tsvangirai, Mugabe has sought to forge new relations with Asian countries such as China and India.”We have turned to the east where the sun rises,” he told supporters.”And given our backs to the west where the sun sets.”An intellectual who initially embraced Marxism, Mugabe was praised when he won the election that ended white minority rule in 1980, a few weeks after Zimbabwe gained independence.He was born on February 21, 1924.Nampa-AFP