This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
Archbishop John Sentamu, a prominent critic of Robert Mugabe's rule, has reversed his decision to cut off his distinctive neckline pooch, a symbol of his opposition to the former Zimbabwean president.
It was 2009 when Sentamu, then the Archbishop of York, appeared on British TV and cut off the pooch, vowing not to wear it until Mugabe stepped down. Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades, was forced out in 2017 after a military takeover.
Despite Mugabe's ouster, Sentamu expressed concerns about Zimbabwe's prospects for recovery, citing the country's high unemployment rate and the legacy of corruption and human rights abuses under Mugabe's rule.
Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, Mugabe is being honored with a national holiday on his birthday, February 21, as well as a range of other accolades, including the renaming of the country's largest airport and the establishment of a new university in his name.
These developments have sparked controversy, given Mugabe's record of human rights abuses and corruption during his time in power.
