March 9, 2002 - Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s rigged election proves a turning point. When the practice of a white minority ruling over a black majority ended in 1980 in Africa’s Rhodesia, the country was renamed Zimbabwe. Initially, the nation’s new president, Robert Mugabe, and his Zanu-PF Party pushed through reforms instrumental in achieving greater fairness across the population. But Mugabe soon turned more tyrant than democratic leader. He oppressed opposition, violated basic human rights and obliterated the freedom of the press for which the country had been renowned. He spoke of turning white-controlled land over to black farmers, but the process was marked by violence, cronyism and a complete disregard for fairness. In the end, most of the land was turned over to the president’s friends and relatives – with disastrous results. Corruption reigned. On March 9, 2002, Mugabe’s election was so heavily rigged that the Opposition Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai and every country observing the election (except South Africa) declared it illegitimate, and even Zimbabwe’s courts ordered a third day of voting. For the Commonwealth countries, it was the last straw. After the election, they cut all ties with Zimbabwe.

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