This archive report was first published on 14 September 2019.
September 14, 2019, marked the passing of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's former president. As a journalist, writing an obituary about such a complex figure has been a thought-provoking experience.
One of the most significant lessons I've learned is that objectivity is an illusion. As a writer, I must drop the pretence of journalistic remove and share my truth. This has been a liberating experience, allowing me to confess that writing about Mugabe has been like running a marathon and winning unexpectedly.
Throughout his life, Mugabe's age seemed to be at odds with his appearance. He would suddenly rejuvenate, looking far younger than his years. Rumors of his frequent visits to Singapore for undisclosed medical reasons only added to the mystery. It's fitting that he died where he was being treated, an element of exile that brings a sense of satisfaction.
As a murderous autocrat, Mugabe's legacy is a personal challenge in the practice of forgiveness. Many Zimbabweans and Africans politely declined to praise him upon his death, and I understand their stance. People hate it when you write about a leader who is not yours, and I've faced some backlash for my views.
However, as a pan-Africanist, Mugabe believed that everyone on the continent was everyone's business. His legacy is complicated, and it's up to this generation to decide how to remember him. By all accounts, Mugabe died desolate and bereft of his power, far from home. His legacy might be considered 'complicated' if we allow for revisionism, but it might not.
As the world swings rightwards, with autocracy on the rise again, Africa is battling amongst itself to define its future. Is it potentially explosive autocratic development or messy and inclusive democracy? We're no longer discussing individual leaders, but rather the conversations we have amongst ourselves. Robert Mugabe: Hero, Villain, Human. And ultimately, no more.
