The Rise of Robert Mugabe

Peter Rosston

Robert Mugabe's Rise by the Year

1953

Britain decides they want to consolidate Nyasaland and Rhodesia into a single territory. In doing so, they created the Cenral African Federation with hopes of bettering economic output. However, they did not anticipate growing unrest stirred up, specifically in Zimbabwe as a result.

1961

After the National Democratic Party is forced to disband, the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) is formed, headed by Joshua Nkomo. Nkomo periodically turned to Robert Mugabe for advice and through the process, Mugabe became an experienced leader.

1962

As ZAPU is gaining power, influence and followers throughout Zimbabwe, the predominantly white government becomes wary and bans the party. This ban led to guerilla warfare between ZAPU and the Rhodesian Government.

1963

Enos Nkala and Ndabaningi Sithole split off from ZAPU to create their own party, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Due to the party not being accepted in Zimbabwe, most of the meetings took place in neighboring countries.

1974

After waiting in the wings and playing a minor role in the push for independence, Mugabe finally comes to prominence as he is elected president of ZANU. Mugabe gave the Zimbabwe people someone to rally around as he was a polarizing figure.

1976

1979

1980

Nkomo is elected President and Mugabe is elected Prime Minister. The ZANU-PF won every single seat available to them, essentially setting up a one-party rule system, banking on the support of the people they had fostered the previous 20 years.

1987

In 1987, after years of civil war, Mugabe usurped the power from Nkomo and abolished the role of Prime Minister, leaving himself with the role of presidency and nearly all the power. He has been able to maintain this power to the present day.

To further his sphere of influence, Mugabe helped organize the reintegration of ZAPU and ZANU, coordinating with Joshua Nkom to form ZANU-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). Now there was one main opposition party, set up to dominate the political setting once the British left.

Late in 1979, Britain finally agreed to grant Zimbabwe their independence by signing the Lancaster House Agreement. Although independence did not become a formality until 1980, Mugabe already had plans to take over the new government.