Robert Gabriel Mugabe Biography and Timeline

Birth of Robert Gabriel Mugabe

Mugabe is born in Matibiri village near Kutama Mission in the Zvimba District northeast of Salisbury in Southern Rhodesia

Education

Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Fort Hare

Education

After graduating, Mugabe lectures at Chalimbana Teacher Training College, in Zambia from 1955-1958

Education

Mugabe and some of his Zimbabwe African National Union party cadres receive instruction at the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute, then at Winneba in southern Ghana

Education

Lectures at Apowa Secondary School at Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana (1958 - 1960)

ZANU

Mugabe and some of his Zimbabwe African National Union party cadres receive instruction at the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute, then at Winneba in southern Ghana

National Democratic Party

Mugabe returns to Southern Rhodesia and joins the National Democratic Party

ZANU

Mugabe returns to Southern Rhodesia and joins the National Democratic Party

ZANU

Helps found the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union

ZANU

The Zimbabwe African National Union party is founded by Ndabaningi Sithole, Herbert Chitepo, Edgar Tekere, Leopold Takawira and Robert Mugabe at the house of former Defence minister Enos Nkala in Highfield

ZANU

The Zimbabwe African National Union party is founded by Ndabaningi Sithole, Herbert Chitepo, Edgar Tekere, Leopold Takawira and Robert Mugabe at the house of former Defence minister Enos Nkala in Highfield. Mugabe leaves ZAPU to join the rival Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU)

Arrest of Robert Gabriel Mugabe

Arrested for "subversive speech" and spends the next 10 years in Salisbury prison, hatred of European hegemony in Africa grows, earns three degrees, including a law degree from London

Party Leader

Appointed leader of ZANU while in prison

ZANU

Robert Mugabe unilaterally assumes control of ZANU after the assassination of Herbert Chitepo

Patriotic Front

ZANU & ZAPU merge to form the Patriotic Front, ZANU-PF

ZANU

A factional split along tribal lines causes the Ndebele to follow Sithole into the moderate ZANU (Ndonga) party, who renounce violent struggle, the Shona follow Mugabe with a more militant agenda

Arrest of Robert Gabriel Mugabe

Released from prison

Patriotic Front Partnership

Mugabe coordinates with Nkomo through the Patriotic Front during settlement talks.

Role range: 1975-1980

Coup

The objective of the Patriotic Front was to overthrow the white minority regime of Ian Smith by means of political pressure and military force

Independence of Rhodesia

The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)

Independence of Zimbabwe

The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)

Patriotic Front

The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia). The objective of the Patriotic Front was to overthrow the white minority regime of Ian Smith by means of political pressure and military force

ZANLA

ZAPUs military wing is known as Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and ZANUs guerrillas were known as Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA)

ZANU-PF

The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)

ZANU

ZAPUs military wing is known as Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and ZANUs guerrillas were known as Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA). The Patriotic Front (PF) is originally formed in 1976 as a political and military alliance between ZAPU and ZANU during the war against white minority rule in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia)

Lancaster House Agreement Signed

Mugabe signs the settlement providing a ceasefire, constitution and supervised elections.

Role range: 1975-1980

Lancaster House Agreement

Returns to Zimbabwe following the completion of the Lancaster House Agreement, is greeted with enormous supportive crowds

Election

The Patriotic Front parties boycott the elections

Independence of Rhodesia

The OAU recognizes the Patriotic Front as representitive of Zimbabwe

Independence of Zimbabwe

The OAU recognizes the Patriotic Front as representitive of Zimbabwe

Ceasefire

A ceasefire is negotiated for the talks, which are attended by Smith, Mugabe, Nkomo & Edson Zvobgo

Constitution of Zimbabwe

The parties to the Lancaster House talks agree on a new constitution for a new Republic of Zimbabwe with elections in February 1980. During the Lancaster House negotiations allows 20 seats to be reserved for whites in the new Parliament and agrees to a ten year moratorium on constitutional amendments

Election

The parties to the Lancaster House talks agree on a new constitution for a new Republic of Zimbabwe with elections in February 1980

Independence of Rhodesia

The parties to the Lancaster House talks agree on a new constitution for a new Republic of Zimbabwe with elections in February 1980

Independence of Zimbabwe

The parties to the Lancaster House talks agree on a new constitution for a new Republic of Zimbabwe with elections in February 1980

Lancaster House Agreement

A ceasefire is negotiated for the talks, which are attended by Smith, Mugabe, Nkomo & Edson Zvobgo.

Lancaster House Agreement

During the Lancaster House negotiations allows 20 seats to be reserved for whites in the new Parliament and agrees to a ten year moratorium on constitutional amendments.

Lancaster House Agreement

Returns to Zimbabwe following the completion of the Lancaster House Agreement, is greeted with enormous supportive crowds.

Lancaster House Agreement

The parties to the Lancaster House talks agree on a new constitution for a new Republic of Zimbabwe with elections in February 1980.

Parliament

During the Lancaster House negotiations allows 20 seats to be reserved for whites in the new Parliament and agrees to a ten year moratorium on constitutional amendments