3. Zimbabwe II: Mugabe in Power

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When Robert Mugabe came to power in 1980 he spoke about peace and reconciliation after years of white colonial rule and a bitter civil war. However he soon developed a strong authoritarian streak and a deep distrust of the opposition.

Mugabe has always made much of his devout Christianity. However, in 1996 he married his former secretary with whom he had already fathered 2 children. She was 41 years his junior. The scandal raised more than a few eyebrows in Zimbabwe. At the same time he was pursuing a highly moral crusade against homosexuality with 10 years imprisonment for anyone committing "unnatural sexual acts".

Local journalists who have tried to investigate allegations of corruption against Mugabe have been intimidated and sometimes tortured. His Zanu-PF party dominates what is virtually a one party state occupying 147 out of the 150 parliamentary seats.

However, the economy is in a poor state with growing inflation and unemployment. This has led to widespread opposition to his rule of the country. Last February he brought forward a constitutional referendum in which he was defeated. This was the first ever election in which he suffered a loss. Part of the problem lies with his handling of the land problem where vast tracts of land were going to be handed over from whites to blacks (see next panel).

He is now facing an election to maintain power which will be probably held this Summer. A formidable opponent has emerged called Morgan Tsvangirai who comes from a trade union background. Last year he created a new political party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He represents a new generation of younger urban voters who are more concerned with the economy rather than the historical role played by Mugabe in the formation of the state.

Morgan Tsvangirai with supporters

Two-thirds of Zimbabwe's population live in the country-side and this is where the election campaign will be won and lost.