President Robert Mugabe Dies At The Age Of 95 Years

The longest serving President of the Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe is reported dead.

Last night, it appeared that the Zimbabwean Godfather, Robert Gabriel Mugabe died after all frantic efforts to wake him up proved futile.

An autopsy will fully confirm the cause of death, but the best guess at the moment is a massive prostate cancer which he had been battling for a while now.

He left behind four children,namely; Bona Mugabe, Robert Peter Mugabe Jr., Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, Michael Nhamodzenyika Mugabe and surviving spouse,Grace Mugabe.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe born 21 February 1924 was the longest serving President of Zimbabwe, serving since 22 December 1987.

As one of the leaders of the rebel groups in opposition to white minority rule, he was elected Prime Minister in 1980, serving in that office as head of the government, until 1987, when he became the country’s first executive head of state.

He had led the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) since 1975.

As of August 2016, he was the world’s oldest and one of the longest serving Head of State.

Mugabe rose to prominence in the 1960s as the leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) during the conflict against the conservative white-minority government of Rhodesia.

Mugabe was a political prisoner in Rhodesia for more than 10 years between 1964 and 1974.

Upon release Mugabe, along with Edgar Tekere, immediately left Rhodesia with the assistance of Rekayi Tangwena in 1975 to launch the fight during the Rhodesian Bush War from bases in Mozambique.

At the end of the war in 1979, Mugabe emerged as a hero in the minds of many Africans.

He won the general elections of 1980 after calling for reconciliation between the former belligerents, including white Zimbabweans and rival political parties, and thereby became Prime Minister on Zimbabwe’s independence in April 1980.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

The Life, Political Career and Controversies of President Robert Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe came to power when Zimbabwe won independence in 1980 and his 37-year rule has been criticized for repression of dissent, election rigging, and for causing the country’s economic collapse. Putting a question mark on his political career.

After leading Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980, Robert Mugabe formally stepped down as the country’s president, according to the speaker of parliament. This was due to political tension and a feared coup after Zimbabwe’s army seized the headquarters of the state broadcaster ZBC in Harare and blocked off access to government offices.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe

The early life

Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924, near Kutama, northeast of Salisbury [now Harare], in what was then Rhodesia.

The former school teacher, with seven university degrees, first came to prominence after waging a bloody guerrilla war against the white colonial rulers who jailed him for 10 years over a “subversive speech” he made in 1964.

Soon after his release from jail in 1974, he caused a seismic shift in national politics, riding a wave of popular outrage against the colonial rulers.

Then married to Ghanaian Sally Hayfron, who died of kidney disease in 1992, he crossed the border to neighboring Mozambique to launch a protracted guerrilla war for independence.

He returned to Rhodesia in 1979 and became prime minister in 1980 of the newly independent country renamed Zimbabwe.

He married his current wife and Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Grace Mugabe, in 1996.

Opposition crackdown

In the early years of his rule, Mugabe was praised for expanding social services, including building schools and hospitals, making a good political career.

He was concurrently spearheading a brutal crackdown on his political opposition led by the late nationalist politician Joshua Nkomo.

The violence claimed more than 20,000 lives, according to the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.

Nkomo was the founding father of the nationalist struggle for independence in Zimbabwe.

The so-called Gukurahundi, a suppression campaign waged by the North Korean-trained 5th Brigade in the predominantly Ndebele regions of Zimbabwe, claimed the lives of most supporters of Nkomo.

The Gukurahundi crackdown ended with the signing of the Unity Accord in 1987 between ZANU-PF and PF-ZAPU.

Mugabe assumed the presidency in 1987, with the prime minister role being abolished.

Since then, he has won a series of controversial elections that critics claim he rigged, including one in 2008 which he lost to Morgan Tsvangirai, sparking political violence that human rights groups say claimed over 200 lives.

His supporters say he spoke for the poor; his critics say he had become increasingly authoritarian.

Failures and achievements  of President Robert Mugabe

There had been growing calls by the opposition and critics demanding Mugabe to step down.

Mugabe’s rule culminated in a massive economic crisis for Zimbabwe, once one of Africa’s richest countries. His critics blame his policies.

Mugabe’s supporters say he empowered black Zimbabweans. Perhaps his biggest achievement, and according to some a failure, was a land-reform policy that arguably marked the beginning of the unraveling of the economy.

He and other freedom fighters won independence mainly on a platform of reclaiming land back from the white minority.

The turn of the century unleashed a wave of violent land acquisition by war veterans. Thousands of white farmers were forced out.

Many Zimbabweans agree that the black majority had to somehow take back the land. After all, about 75,000 hectares of productive land was owned by white farmers who make up only 1.5 percent of the population.

The way the land indigenization policy was conducted remains a deeply divisive issue. Land in Zimbabwe, as in many other African countries, is a very emotive subject.

Military tensions

This month’s military intervention came after a period of unrest within Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, an ally of the army chief and a veteran of the country’s struggle for independence, was dismissed as vice president on November 8 by Mugabe for showing “traits of disloyalty”.

With that, Mugabe had ousted one of his last remaining associates from the liberation war, who have stood by him since independence from Britain in 1980.

Mnangagwa, who fled Zimbabwe soon afterward, was seen as a possible successor to the ailing president, and his ousting appeared to pave the way for the first lady, Grace Mugabe, to succeed Mugabe.

However, army commander Constantino Chiwenga said on Monday, November 13, that the military would act if purges against former war liberation fighters did not cease.

Many war veterans, who fought alongside Mugabe during the 1970s liberation struggle and spearheaded the repossession of white-owned commercial farms in the 2000s, claim Mugabe betrayed the revolution.

The purges of scores of Mnangagwa allies apparently widened the rift between the Mugabe’s and various groups of war veteran leaders.

In the end, that rift proved to be the immediate source of the undoing of Mugabe’s political career.

Anyone thinking about taking out finance needs to understand the purpose of why lenders make short-term loans available to borrowers

10 Critical Things to Consider Before Applying for a Loan

 

Loan helps you established or sort out issue in difficult time. But be very careful before and when going in fore a loan because there are some critical things you must consider before applying for a loan.

Loans come in all different shapes and sizes. Understanding what loan options are available and what lenders need from you, will make it easier to get the money you need.

Before you actually make an application for one though, it is really important to understand the dangers of payday loans and to understand as much as you possibly can about payday loans before taking one out.

Before talking about these 10 critical things you must consider before applying for a loan it will be good we first of all understand the purpose and different type of loans.

Understand the purpose of a loan

Anyone thinking about taking out finance needs to understand the purpose of why lenders make short-term loans available to borrowers

10 Critical Things to Consider Before Applying for a Loan

1. Types of Loans

Before you decide to borrow money, understand the different loan options that are available. Before applying for a loan think about what you want to use the loan for. There are lots of different types of loans in the market, henceforth it’s important to choose a loan that suits your situation and what you intend to use it for.

a) Personal loans.

• Secured loans: Personal property is offered as collateral and may be granted to individuals with poor or no credit history.
• Unsecured loans: Based on credit scores; no collateral is necessary.

b) Business loans. Only a few are listed below. For a more comprehensive list of business loans available, contact your bank or financial institution.

• Term loans: General purpose loans that are paid back over a set period of time.
• Short-term loans: Smaller loans that are taken for periods of less than one year and paid back in one lump sum.
• Equipment financing: Loans granted for purchasing equipment; equipment is used as collateral.
• Lines of credit: Specific loan amounts are granted per year on an as-needed basis; these loans usually need to be repaid quickly.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loans: Loans offered by banks or financial institutions that are guaranteed by the SBA. For more information about the different types of SBA loans and loan requirements, visit the SBA website.

c) Student loans. Student loans may be obtained through private lending institutions or through federal aid. To apply for federal aid, visit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) website.

d) Mortgages.

• Conventional mortgages: Offered as either fixed-rate (interest rate is set and will not change over the course of the loans), and variable-rate (interest rates may change based on the flux of the market).
• Government mortgages: These include FHA loans, VA loans, and RHS loans.

e) Equity loans.

• Home equity loans: Taken as a lump sum against equity built into a home; money taken from these loans may be used for any purpose.
• Home equity lines of credit (HELOC): Set amount available may be taken as needed against the equity built into a home; money taken from these loans may be used for any purpose.
• Home improvement equity loans:  Taken against equity built into a home; these loans must be used for home repairs, renovations, or improvements

f) Auto loans.

2. Current Financial Situation

The most important factor in deciding whether to borrow money is you. Looking at monthly and yearly budgets may help you understand just how much you can afford to make in loan payments, thus helping you decide on a loan amount.

3. Credit History

The finest rates are available to those with the good credit history. As a result of capping of interest rates, most banks are anxious about lending for risk of default. Beforehand you should check your acknowledgment score in order to know the likely prospects of getting the loan certified.

4. Interest Rate

Regardless of the type of loan you decide on, you need to pay attention to current interest rates. These will play an important role in deciding the total amount of the loan that must be paid back.

Since most banks and financial institutions are willing to compete for your business, it may be a good idea to shop around for the best possible interest rate. Just be sure that there are no hidden fees included in the rate, such as:

• Origination fees
• Appraisal fees
• Underwriting fees
• Administration fees
• Credit report fees
• Processing fees

Fees may not cause the interest rate to increase, but they will be included in your monthly payments. If this is the case, you might be better off choosing a loan with a slightly higher interest rate instead of paying a large amount in monthly or upfront fees.

5. Loan Term

Depending upon the type of loan you need, the length of the loan will also play a part in determining your total loan cost. Since different loans are set up in different ways, and since there are so many loan lengths, it is best to discuss your options with a bank or financial institution.

6. How You Plan To Pay It Off

This seems like an obvious point but it’s important to plan out how you intend to repay the debt. Will you be paying weekly, fortnightly or monthly? Do you plan to pay it off sooner than the term? These key factors will help you choose the right loan to ensure that you avoid any unnecessary costs.

7. Penalty Charges

Refusal to repay the loan is a reality we all face. In case you are not able to pay your dues on time, there is normally a very weighty penalty indicted on your credit account.

8. Down Payment Amount

The amount of money that you put down depends on the financial institution granting the loan. Although not all loans require down payments (usually home equity loans use the house as collateral so no down payment is necessary), you may benefit by putting some money down on your mortgage or auto loan.

9. Hidden Charges

Make sure you read the fine print before finalizing a deal. There might be charges you are not aware of, especially for home equity mortgages. Find out about things like early repayment fees, arrangement charges and the like.

10. Don’t Bite More Than You Can Chew

The principal rule of clever borrowing is what the older generation has been telling us all the time: don’t live beyond your means. Take a loan that you can easily repay.

Please do well to follow these 10 critical things to consider before applying for a loan and also share to help others (Sharing Is Caring and Sharing is Godly)