He was Prime Minister of Zimbabwe from 18 April 1980 to 31 December 1987 and President from 31 December 1987 until he resigned in November 2017 following a bloodless army coup. He finished his leadership as the oldest head of state in the world at the age of 93.
While many Western politicians accuse him of corruption, suppression of political opposition, mishandling of land reform and deteriorating human rights, many Africans consider him a hero of the fight for Independence.