A Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician, Robert Mugabe served as the country's Prime Minister and later as its President for 37 years. His legacy remains a contentious topic, marked by controversy, violence, and suspected military coups during his later years in power, despite his role in leading Zimbabwe to independence from British colonial rule. So who was Robert Mugabe, and how did he hold onto power for so long? In this episode, James welcomes Dr. Sue Onslow from Kings University to delve into Mugabe's controversial life and legacy. Exploring his early political years, his relationship with the British, and his eventual downfall - was Mugabe a ruthless dictator, or was he a revolutionary hero? You can buy Sue's book here. Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code WARFARE. Download the app on your smart TV or in the app store or sign up here. You can take part in our listener survey here. For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare Wednesday newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.