Thread by @Citizen_Alert1

Mugabe is dead. While he led an authoritarian regime which became a full fledged dictatorship by the year 2000 the jury is still out for a comprehensive verdict on his legacy
History will never fully agree on a one word or line description of Robert Mugabe

As a person Robert Mugabe was a very orderly person. From childhood he was known to be clean & smart despite poverty - something few black Africans could hardly avoid in a colonial state that granted as many privileges to whites as it created hardships for Africans

Against all odds Mugabe went through school. Brilliant he was. Again his schoolmates testify to his orderliness. He was never seen once with an unpolished shoe & his shirts were crisp ironed. He wasn't given to loose talk or participation in banter & triteness

Mugabe however as early as high school showed a trait that would dog him all of his adult life: an insatiable display of vindictiveness & merciless vengeance. He also had a sharp tongue clearly expressing his disgust against whatever angered him.

Robert Mugabe wasn't given to any excesses. A teetotaler, Mugabe quite literally never touched alcohol cigarettes or any substances - which in his time was a feat. He ate in moderation & wouldn't unduly pain himself if there wasn't enough food to go around as he gave up his share

He earned his first degree attending University of Fort Hare, South Africa. He would subsequently earn more degrees in Law, Education, History, English & Economics. He had a long career teaching in many schools in Zimbabwe & Zambia before joining the liberation struggle

Bachelor of Arts - History and English University of Fort Hare
Bachelor of Administration - University of South Africa
Bachelor of Education - University of South Africa
Bachelor of Science - Economics - University of London
Bachelor of Laws - University of London

Master of Science - Economics - University of London
The two law degrees were earned while he was in prison (between 1964 and 1975) and the MSc while leading the Zimbabwe government after independence

In prison Mugabe devoted himself to studying as well as teaching fellow prisoners literacy mathematics & English. Some of the prison students would go on to earn degrees & earn distinguished careers in various sectors - this despite being mentally & physically tortured in prison