Robert Mugabe

=== Later years: 2013–2017===
[[File:Grace Mugabe with Robert Mugabe 2013-08-04 11-53.jpeg|thumb|Mugabe and his wife in 2013]]

Declaring that he would "fight like a wounded animal" for re-election,{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=963}} Mugabe approached the [[2013 Zimbabwean general election|2013 elections]] believing that it would be his last.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=964}} He hoped that a decisive electoral victory would secure his legacy, signal his triumph over his Western critics, and irreparably damage Tsvangirai's credibility.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=964}} The opposition parties believed that this election was their best chance for ousting Mugabe.{{sfn|Gallagher|2015|pp=27–28}} They portrayed him as a feeble old man who was being told what to do by the military;{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=967}} at least one academic observer argued that this was untrue.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=967}}

In contrast to 2008, there was no organised dissent against Mugabe within ZANU–PF.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=969}} The party elite decided to avoid the violence that had marred the 2008 election so as not to undermine its credibility,{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=965}} particularly in the eyes of the SADC, thus allowing Zimbabwe's government to consolidate its rule without interference.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=965}} Mugabe called upon supporters to avoid violence,{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=965}} and attended far fewer rallies than in past elections, in part because of his advanced age and in part to ensure that those rallies he did attend were larger.{{sfn|Tendi|2013|p=966}} The ZANU–PF offered gifts, including food and clothing, to many members of the electorate to encourage them to vote for the party.{{sfn|Gallagher|2015|pp=38–39}}

ZANU–PF won a landslide victory, with 61% of the presidential vote and over two-thirds of parliamentary seats.{{sfn|Gallagher|2015|p=28}} The elections were not considered free and fair; there were widespread stories of vote rigging and many voters might have been fearful of the violence that had surrounded the 2008 election.{{sfn|Gallagher|2015|p=28}} During the campaign, many MDC supporters had remained quiet about their views out of fear of reprisals.{{sfn|Gallagher|2015|pp=35–36}} The MDC was also negatively impacted by its time in the coalition government, with perceptions that it had been just as corrupt as ZANU–PF.{{sfn|Gallagher|2015|pp=41–42}} ZANU–PF had also capitalised on its appeals to African race, land, and liberation, while the MDC was often associated with white farmers, Western nations, and perceived Western values such as [[LGBT rights]].{{sfn|Gallagher|2015|pp=43–44}}
[[File:Robert Mugabe and Shinzo Abe cropped Robert Mugabe and Shinzo Abe 20160328 2.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Mugabe meeting Japanese prime minister [[Shinzo Abe]] in 2016]]

In February 2014, Mugabe underwent a [[cataract]] operation in Singapore; on return he celebrated his ninetieth birthday at a [[Marondera]] football stadium.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-mugabe-idUSBREA1M0P420140223?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews | work=Reuters | title=At 90, Zimbabwe's Mugabe says has energy of 9-year-old | date=23 February 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924193848/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/23/us-zimbabwe-mugabe-idUSBREA1M0P420140223?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews | archive-date=24 September 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In December 2014, Mugabe fired his vice-president, [[Joice Mujuru]], accusing her of plotting his overthrow.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Mugabe sacks deputy and seven ministers over 'plot' against him|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/09/robert-mugabe-sacks-ministers-zimbabwe-joice-mujuru|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229035110/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/09/robert-mugabe-sacks-ministers-zimbabwe-joice-mujuru|archive-date=29 December 2016}}</ref> In January 2015, Mugabe was elected as the [[Chairperson of the African Union|Chairperson]] of the [[African Union]] (AU).<ref>{{cite news |date=30 January 2015 |title=Zimbabwe's Mugabe, 90, becomes African Union chairman |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN0L313I20150130|work=Reuters|access-date=30 January 2015|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130152759/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN0L313I20150130 |archive-date=30 January 2015}}</ref> In November 2015, he announced his intention to run for re-election as Zimbabwe's president in 2018, at the age of 94, and was accepted as the ZANU–PF candidate.<ref>{{cite news|title = Mugabe will rule until he is 100 from special wheelchair, claims wife|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-will-rule-until-he-is-100-from-special-wheelchair-his-wife-claims-a6744386.html|website = The Independent|access-date = 23 November 2015|issn = 0951-9467|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151123085615/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-will-rule-until-he-is-100-from-special-wheelchair-his-wife-claims-a6744386.html|archive-date = 23 November 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref> In February 2016, Mugabe said he had no plans for retirement and would remain in power "until God says 'come'".<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 February 2016 |title='Until God says come': turning 92, Zimbabwe's Mugabe refuses to relinquish power |publisher=Channel NewsAsia |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/until-god-says-come-tu/2526514.html  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219095654/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/until-god-says-come-tu/2526514.html |archive-date=19 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2017, right after his 93rd birthday, Mugabe stated he would not retire nor pick a successor, even though he said he would let his party choose a successor if it saw fit.<ref name="93rdPledgeRemain">{{cite web | last1=Michael | first1=Dibie Ike | title=Zimbabwe: Mugabe Celebrates 93rd Birthday, Pledges to Remain in Power | url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/02/25/zimbabwe-mugabe-celebrate-93rd-birthday-pledges-to-remain-in-power/ | date=25 February 2017 | publisher=[[Africanews]] | access-date=25 February 2017 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226050332/http://www.africanews.com/2017/02/25/zimbabwe-mugabe-celebrate-93rd-birthday-pledges-to-remain-in-power/ | archive-date=26 February 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Bulawayo | first1=Philimon | title=Zimbabwe's Mugabe Says Will Not Impose Successor, Party Will Choose | url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-02-25/zimbabwes-mugabe-says-will-not-impose-successor-party-will-choose | date=25 February 2017 | publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]] (from [[Reuters]]) | access-date=25 February 2017 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226050302/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-02-25/zimbabwes-mugabe-says-will-not-impose-successor-party-will-choose | archive-date=26 February 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In May 2017, Mugabe took a weeklong trip to [[Cancún]], Mexico, ostensibly to attend a three-day conference on disaster risk reduction, eliciting criticism of wasteful spending from opposition figures.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |title=Mugabe and Entourage Live it Up in Cancún While Zimbabwe Suffers |first=Robbie |last=Gramer |date=27 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[News24 (website)|news24]] |url=http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/mugabe-not-given-chance-to-speak-in-mexico-leaves-in-a-huff-20170526 |title=Mugabe 'not given chance to speak in Mexico' |date=26 May 2017 |quote=Mugabe, 93, left Harare for Mexico last Friday, less than a week after he returned from a trip to see his doctors in Singapore. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528033156/http://www.news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/mugabe-not-given-chance-to-speak-in-mexico-leaves-in-a-huff-20170526 |archive-date=28 May 2017}}</ref> He made three medical trips to Singapore in 2017, and Grace Mugabe called on him to name a successor.<ref>{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe urged by first lady to name heir |date=27 July 2017 |access-date=28 July 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40740359 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728150404/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40740359 |archive-date=28 July 2017}}</ref>

In October 2017, the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) appointed Mugabe as a [[goodwill ambassador]]; this attracted criticism from both the Zimbabwean opposition and various foreign governments given the poor state of the Zimbabwean health system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Mugabe's WHO appointment condemned as 'an insult' |date=21 October 2017 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41702662 |access-date=22 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021144046/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41702662 |archive-date=21 October 2017 }}</ref> Responding to the outcry, WHO revoked Mugabe's appointment a day later.<ref>{{cite web |title=WHO cancels Robert Mugabe goodwill ambassador role |date=22 October 2017 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41713919 |access-date=22 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022132033/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41713919 |archive-date=22 October 2017 }}</ref> &nbsp;In response, foreign minister [[Walter Mzembi]] said the United Nations system should be reformed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/special-features/zimbabwe/harare-fumes-after-who-rescinds-mugabe-goodwill-appointment-11667175|title=Harare fumes after WHO rescinds Mugabe goodwill appointment {{!}} IOL News|access-date=23 October 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023173939/https://www.iol.co.za/news/special-features/zimbabwe/harare-fumes-after-who-rescinds-mugabe-goodwill-appointment-11667175|archive-date=23 October 2017}}</ref>