Robert Mugabe death: ‘Live by the gun you die by the gun’

Robert Mugabe  is dead.

According to Edgar Tekere, the 95-year old revolutionary leader believed in the gun ,the gun which liberated Zimbabwe from the jaws of colonialism.

Ironically, he was removed from power by the gun in the November 2017 military intervention.

He was very bitter leading to his hospitalisation in Singapore where he eventually succumbed.

According to the late Edgar Tekere Mugabe believed in the gun but he was afraid to have it in his own hands. 

In  his book, the late  Tekere portrays Mugabe as a leader who rose to power through political coups and detention camp plots.

It also states that some of his comrades during the liberation struggle viewed him as a “sell out.”

Mugabe’s political backbone was the army, he believed in a bullet not ballot, he could fight for his survival using state sponsored violence.

Mugabe was once quoted saying guns and votes are inseparable twins.

“Our votes must go together with our guns, after all ,any vote shall have been the product of the gun. The gun which produces the vote should remain its security officer-its guarantor .The people votes and the people’s guns are always inseparable twins,” Mugabe was quoted saying.

Mugabe  unleashed a  North Korean-trained military unit to crack down on dissent to consolidate his rule in Matabeleland and Midlands, resulting in the death of over 20 000 civilians.

It is so unfortunate that he died before apologising.

Mugabe is also accused of killing his political rivals within ZANU PF who include Political Commissars in the Party who include the late Malvin Mahachi, Border Gezi, Elliot Manyika among others.

 In 2000, Mugabe evicted white farmers from their land, which was given to black Zimbabweans.

But the methodology applied was violent .

 He was re-elected in disputed elections in 2002, 2008 and 2013, with reports of opponents beaten and killed.

Zimbabwe began to suffer under his iron-fist rule, with food shortages in 2002 threatening a famine in the country.

He had his achievements which were eroded by his flaws.