Zimbabwe's Former President Robert Mugabe is Dead

Zimbabwe's former President Robert Mugabe has died in Singapore, aged 95. He had been ousted from power in a military coup in November 2017.

Robert Mugabe, who served as prime minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as president from 1987 to 2017, has died, aged 95, the current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Friday.

"It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe."

Before his rather inglorious exit from power, Mr Mugabe made several medical trips to Singapore and Mr Mnangagwa said in November last year that he was no longer able to walk.

Officials often said he was being treated for a cataract, denying frequent reports by private local media that he had prostate cancer.

Mr Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 38 years until was he deposed in a largely bloodless military coup in November following a power struggle between Grace Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa, a former vice president and intelligence chief. 

Mugabe was a controversial figure whose supporters considered him as a hero who helped Zimbabwe from British colonialism, but whose detractors accused him of economic mismanagement, corruption and crimes against humanity.

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