Robert Gabriel Mugabe was born on 21 February 1924, in Kutama, then Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and is a politician, best known for being the president of his country. He also became the Prime Minister of the country during the 1980s, and is now one of the longest serving Heads of State. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Robert Mugabe? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $10 million, mostly earned through a career in politics, with which he has been involved in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe since he was young and even fought during the Rhodesian Bush War. He has participated in several election runs, and these have ensured the position of his wealth.
Robert Mugabe Net Worth $10 million
Mugabe was raised as a catholic, and attended Kutama College. During this period, he spent a lot of time with the priests and eventually obtained qualifications to be a teacher. However, he decided to go to South Africa and study at Fort Hare. After graduating, he would continue to study and eventually gather a total of seven degrees, including a Master’s degree in Science and Law. He then began a teaching career in 1955, and would teach at several schools until 1960.
Mugabe then returned to his home and joined the National Democratic Party (NDP) and later the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU), eventually three years later he joined the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU). Political tensions between the two groups reached a violent point and after the murder of a farmer, a lot of ZANU officials were arrested including Robert. In 1974, despite being detained he became the leader of ZANU. He was eventually released along with other leaders and went into protective custody. He would gain full control of the group the following year, intent on continuing his political career.
In 1980, despite mistrust, issues and tension in Zimbabwe, Mugabe would become the head of the first government as prime minister thanks to ZANU taking over the new parliament. After the election, he decided to make a tension filled peace with ZAPU, but in 1983, due to tensions with the Ndebele tribe, Mugabe accused them of trying to overthrow him and went on to a military campaign against the group. This was taken negatively and was considered as an act of mass murder during his rule. Eventually, peace was negotiated in 1987 and it saw the creation of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). Another controversial issue during this time was the death of over 20,000 people in Matabeleland, after Mugabe discovered old weapons in the area. The acts of killing were attributed to him and his military force called the Fifth Brigade.
In 1987, the position of Prime Minister was abolished, and Mugabe became the President of Zimbabwe; he also became the Chancellor of most State Universities including the University of Zimbabwe. The economy of the country started to show growth, and infant mortality rates lowered. However life expectancy in the country was still low for any nation, with men only living an average of 37 years. Robert focused on increasing the literacy rate of Zimbabwe, but also made a controversial decision to participate in the Second Congo War, despite the struggling economy of the country which was only then starting to experience growth. However their participation was seen as an invasion scheme by the Congo government.
In 2008, he went on to participate in the General Elections, and was defeated during the first round of elections, however, violence from ZANU-PF forces led to an increase of his votes during the run-off election. He was later re-elected in 2013.
For his personal life, it is known that he married Sally Hayfron, but she passed away in 1992 due to a kidney ailment; they had a son who also passed away, from cerebral malaria. During his marriage, it was known that he had an affair with his secretary Grace Marufu and they married later in 1996. He also has a son with her; she has drawn criticism because of her lavish lifestyle.
