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Robert Mugabe was born in Kutama of Sothern Rhodesia, just months after the country had become a British colony.
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Over the next several years before earning his degree, Robert Mugabe spent his time studying and teaching at Mission Schools all across Southern Africa.
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Graduated from University of Fort hare in 1951. Earned a Bachelor degree in Arts and English.
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After earning his degree from University of Fort Hare, Mugabe then returned to his hometown. He spent the next two years teaching and earned his degree through correspondance courses.
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Mugabe moved to Northern Rhodesia and spent four years teaching at the Chalimbana Training College while also earning his degree in Economics on the side.
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After moving to Ghana, Mugabe completed his degree in economics 1958. He also taught at St. Mary's Teacher Training College, where he met his first wife. While in Ghana, he claimed himself to be supporting the Ghanian government's goal of providing equal educational opportunities ot the formeryl designated lower classes.
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When Mugabe returned to his hometown in Southern Rhodesia with his Fiance, he was outraged to see that black families had been displaced by the new colonial government and the white population had exploded. Mugabe agreed to adress the opposition and gave a speech to the crowd of 7,000 protesting. Weeks later he was elected punlic secretary of the National Democratic Part.
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ZAPU sought after acheiving black independance in Rhodesia. This organization grew to a staggering 450,000 people in only a few months with their leader Joshua Nkomo. He was invited to meet with the United Nations, but nothing seemed to change. Mugabe; frustrated that Nkomo did not insist on a definite change to the constitution, started to publicly discuss the possible of starting a guerilla war against the government if nothing changed.
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Married his first wife, Sally Hayfron.
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Mugabe and other former supporters of Nkomo founded theri own resistance movemant called ZANU. Police soon arrested Mugabe and sent him to Hwahwa Prison.
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In 1964, while in prison, Mugabe relied on secret communications to launch guerilla operations toward freeing Sothern Rhodesia from British Rule.
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Prime minister Ian Smith, allowed Mugabe to leave prison and go to a conference in Lusaka, Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesua). Mugabe instead escape back across the border to Southern Rhodeisa, assembling a troop of Rhodesian guerilla trainees along the way. The battles went on throughout the 1970's. Mugabe was never caught.
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By the end of the decade, Zmbabwe's economy was in worse shape than ever. After Smith had tried to reach an agreement with Mugabe, the British agreed to monitor the changeover to black majority rule and the UN lifted sanctions.
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Robert Mugabe gave his first speech to the people of Zimbabwe before he was sworn as Prime Minister.
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Robert Mugabe wins the independant votes and is elected as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.
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Mugabe fired Nkomo from his cabinet. This sparks war between ZAPU supporters in the Ndebele-speaking region of the country for the next three years.
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After five years of low level civil war, Mugabe and opposition Nkomo formed a one party state of government known as ZANU-PF.
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In 1987 right after joing Nanu-PF, he changes the constitution and becomes executive president of Zimbabwe.
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In 1989, Mugabe set out to implement a five-year plan, which slackened price restrictions for farmers, allowing them to designate their own prices.
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At the end of the five-year period, the economy had seen some growth in farming, mining, and manufacturing industries. Mugabe additianolly managed to build clinics and schools for the black population.
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Mugabe, who had once been hailed as a hero for leading the country to independence, was beginning to recieve criticism from the citicenz of Zimbabwe.
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Mugabe's refusal to hand over presidential power has led to several violent outbreaks over the years and has injured/kiilled thousands in the process. On December 10 of 2011, Mugabe has offically announced his bid for the 2012 Zimbabwe presidential election.
