Former Zimbabwe President Passes Away In Singapore At Age 95

If you clicked on this article expecting a fun time, well…

I think you’re better off elsewhere.

According to Straits Times, former Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe has passed at the age of 95, and according to reports…

He’s believed to have died in Singapore.

Former Zimbabwe Leader Passes Away

On Friday (6 September), current President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced some depressing news on his official Twitter account:

Former Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe has passed away at the age of 95.

“It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President, (Comrade) Robert Mugabe,” the President of Zimbabwe wrote.

“(Comrade) Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe (1/2)

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) September 6, 2019

Seeking Medical Treatment

According to Reuters, he was believed to have died in Singapore. Apparently, he had been in Singapore for medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment since April.

“Founding president and founding father of our nation (comrade), Robert Mugabe remains detained at a hospital in Singapore where he is receiving medical attention,” Mr Mnangagwa said in a statement back in August.

“Unlike in the past when the former president would require just about a month for this, his physicians this time around determined that he be kept under observation for much longer from April this year when he left for his latest routine check-up.”

According to Straits Times, Mr Mugabe, who was the African nation’s first post-independence president, ruled from 1980 until he was ousted in 2017. Mnangawa had taken over in November 2017 with the backing of the military, thereby ending Mugabe’s 37-year rule. He was eventually elected in disputed elections in July 2018.

In November last year, it was announced that Mugabe had been unable to walk because of ill-health and old age, and a team (including chief secretary to cabinet Misheck Sibanda) had been sent to Singapore to check on the former ruler.

The team that visited Mugabe had reported that he was “responding well” to treatment and that because of the good progress he is making, Mugabe could be released fairly soon.

In April, the government announced that Mugabe had gone to Singapore for medical treatment in May, and expected him to be back home mid-May.