Robert Gabriel Mugabe

Mugabe, Robert Gabriel (1924– ), president (1987– ) and prime minister (1980– ) of Zimbabwe. A Marxist, he and Joshua Nkomo shared leadership of a guerrilla movement against the white leaders of Rhodesia. When Rhodesia achieved legal independence (as Zimbabwe) and black majority rule in 1980, Mugabe became prime minister in a government of national unity. In 1982, however, he expelled Nkomo from his cabinet.

See also: Zimbabwe.