Robert Mugabe

==Post-presidency==
Late in December 2017, according to a government gazette, Mugabe was given full [[diplomatic immunity|diplomatic status]] and, out of public funds, a five-bedroom house, up to 23 staff members, and personal vehicles. He further was permitted to keep the business interests and other wealth which he had amassed while in power, and he received an additional payment of about ten million dollars.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/robert-mugabes-lavish-retirement-package-includes-firstclass-flights-a-fivebedroom-house-and-23-a3728106.html|title=Robert Mugabe's lavish retirement package includes first-class flights, a five-bedroom house and 23 staff|first=Hatty|last=Collier|work=Evening Standard|date=28 December 2017|access-date=8 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109064226/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/robert-mugabes-lavish-retirement-package-includes-firstclass-flights-a-fivebedroom-house-and-23-a3728106.html|archive-date=9 January 2018}}</ref>

On 15 March 2018, in his first interview since removal from the presidency, Mugabe insisted that he had been ousted in a "coup d'état" which must be undone. He stated that he would not work with Mnangagwa and termed Mnangagwa's presidency "illegal" and "unconstitutional".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/16/robert-mugabe-zimbabwe-disgraceful-coup-must-be-undone|title=Robert Mugabe says 'disgraceful' Zimbabwe coup must be undone|work=The Guardian|agency=Agence-France Presse|date=15 March 2018|access-date=15 March 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315234748/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/16/robert-mugabe-zimbabwe-disgraceful-coup-must-be-undone|archive-date=15 March 2018}}</ref> In a lawsuit brought by two political parties, the [[Liberal Democrats (Zimbabwe)|Liberal Democrats]] and the [[Revolutionary Freedom Fighters]], and others, the court found that the resignation was legal, and that Mnangagwa, as vice-president, duly took over the presidency.<ref name="Voluntary" />

The state media reported that Mugabe had backed the [[National Patriotic Front (Zimbabwe)|National Political Front]], which was formed by [[Ambrose Mutinhiri]], a former high-ranking ZANU-PF politician who resigned in protest against Mugabe's removal from the presidency. The NPF posted a picture of Mutinhiri posing with Mugabe<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news24.com/Africa/Zimbabwe/new-party-forms-in-zimbabwe-with-mugabes-backing-20180305|title=New party forms in Zimbabwe with Mugabe's backing |publisher=news24 |access-date=28 October 2019 }}</ref> and issued a press release in which it said that the former president had praised the decision.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/new-mugabe-backed-party-misplaced-mere-political-profiling-13608294|title=New Mugabe-backed party 'misplaced, mere political profiling' |publisher=iol |access-date=28 October 2019 }}</ref>

On the eve of the [[2018 Zimbabwean general election|29 July 2018 general election]], the first in 38 years in which he would not be a candidate, Mugabe held a surprise press conference, in which he stated that he would not vote for President Mnangagwa and ZANU–PF, the party he founded. Instead, he intended to vote for [[Nelson Chamisa]], the candidate for his long-time rivals, the MDC.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44998488 |title=Zimbabwe election: Mugabe turns on Mnangagwa in surprise pre-poll speech |work=BBC News |access-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729123307/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44998488 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/robert-mugabe-zanu-pf-zimbabwe-election|title=Robert Mugabe: I won't vote for Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe election|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729143932/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/29/robert-mugabe-zanu-pf-zimbabwe-election|archive-date=29 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-refuses-to-back-successor-mnangagwa-in-election-11453221 |title=Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe refuses to back successor Mnangagwa in election |publisher=Sky News |access-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729163948/https://news.sky.com/story/zimbabwes-robert-mugabe-refuses-to-back-successor-mnangagwa-in-election-11453221 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/zimbabwe-mugabe-won-vote-successor-mnangagwa-180729100342113.html |title=Zimbabwe's Mugabe says he won't vote for successor Mnangagwa |last=Mohamed |first=Hamza |date=29 July 2018 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729230401/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/zimbabwe-mugabe-won-vote-successor-mnangagwa-180729100342113.html |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mnangagwa won the re-election.

===Illness, death and funeral: 2019===
Mugabe was unable to walk, according to Emmerson Mnangagwa in November 2018, and had been receiving treatment in Singapore for the previous two months.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46329242 | title= Ex-Zimbabwe President Mugabe 'unable to walk' | publisher = BBC | access-date = 8 September 2019 | date = 24 November 2018 }}</ref> He was hospitalised there in April 2019, making the last of several trips to the country for medical treatment, as he had done late in his presidency and following his resignation.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49604152 | title= Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's strongman ex-president, dies aged 95
 | publisher = BBC | access-date = 8 September 2019 | date = 6 September 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Burke |first1=Jason |last2=Smith |first2=David |date=6 September 2019 |title=Robert Mugabe: former Zimbabwean president dies aged 95 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/06/robert-mugabe-former-zimbabwean-president-dies-aged-95 |work=The Guardian |access-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906054505/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/06/robert-mugabe-former-zimbabwean-president-dies-aged-95 |archive-date=6 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 September 2019 |title=Zimbabwe's former president Robert Mugabe dies in Singapore |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-mugabe/zimbabwes-former-president-robert-mugabe-dies-in-singapore-idUSKCN1VR0FZ |work=Reuters |access-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906053440/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-mugabe/zimbabwes-former-president-robert-mugabe-dies-in-singapore-idUSKCN1VR0FZ |archive-date=6 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> He died at [[Gleneagles Hospital]] on 6 September 2019 at about 10:40&nbsp;am, aged 95 ([[Singapore Standard Time]]), according to a senior Zimbabwean diplomat.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.straitstimes.com/world/africa/ex-zimbabwe-leader-robert-mugabe-dies-at-95-bbc | title= Ex-Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe dies at 95 in Singapore | website = The Straits Times | access-date = 8 September 2019 | date = 6 September 2019 }}</ref> Although the [[cause of death]] was not officially disclosed,<ref name="cbsnews.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-mugabe-has-died-zimbabwes-founding-father-turned-strongman-dies-at-95-cause-of-death-unknown-2019-09-06/|title=Robert Mugabe has died; Zimbabwe's founding father turned strongman dies at 95 cause of death unknown|date=6 September 2019|publisher=CBS News|access-date=6 September 2019}}</ref> Mnangagwa, his successor, told ZANU–PF supporters in New York City that Mugabe had advanced cancer and his [[chemotherapy]] treatment had ceased to be effective.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mnangagwa Reveals Mugabe was Being Treated for Cancer Before his Death |url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/09/23/mnangagwa-reveals-mugabe-was-being-treated-for-cancer-before-his-death |website=Eyewitness News |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Former President Mugabe cause of death revealed |url=https://www.herald.co.zw/former-president-mugabe-cause-of-death-revealed/ |website=The Herald |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref>

On 11 September 2019, his body was flown back to the [[Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport|Harare airport]] in Zimbabwe,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/robert-mugabe-body-zimbabwe-leaves-singapore-casket-funeral-11893474|title=Mugabe's body leaves Singapore for burial in Zimbabwe|website=CNA|language=en|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911032903/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/robert-mugabe-body-zimbabwe-leaves-singapore-casket-funeral-11893474|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/mugabes-body-expected-zimbabwe-burial-072247758.html|title=Mugabe's body expected in Zimbabwe, burial place still a mystery|date=11 September 2019 |publisher=Yahoo! News|language=en-SG|access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref> where 1,000 had gathered to wait for the body and listen to a speech from Mnangagwa.<ref name="crowdsoba">{{cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/ed9ddbffc9e640a99e1dc2821f374838|title=Few turn out as Mugabe is returned to a Zimbabwe in crisis|first1=Andrew|last1=Meldrum|first2=Farai|last2=Mutsaka|work=Associated Press|date=11 September 2019|access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref> Mugabe's body was then driven to the family residence in Borrowdale for a private [[Wake (ceremony)|wake]] attended by his friends and family, but not Mnangagwa.<ref name="crowdsoba" /> The [[Associated Press]] reported that no supporters had gathered along the procession route, but 500 mourners gathered in his birthplace of [[Zvimba]].<ref name="crowdsoba" /> On 13 September 2019, it was announced that the Mugabe family had accepted the Mnangagwa government's request to have Mugabe buried at [[National Heroes Acre (Zimbabwe)|Heroes Acre Cemetery]] and to have his burial be delayed for 30 days.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.apnews.com/4ffa20cc022d459194b37fc1a850f1d2|title=Zimbabwe's Mugabe to be buried in 30 days, at new mausoleum|first=Andrew|last=Meldrum|work=Associated Press|date=13 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://home.bt.com/news/world-news/mugabe-burial-to-be-delayed-for-30-days-nephew-says-11364394522465|title=Mugabe burial to delayed for 30 days, nephew says|author=British Telecommunications PLC|date=13 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> The Mugabe family had initially rejected the government's burial plan and intended for him to be buried in Zvimba on either 16 or 17 September, a day later than the government's proposal.<ref name="crowdsoba" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/12/robert-mugabe-family-reject-government-burial-plans-zimbabwe|title=Robert Mugabe's family rejects government burial plans|first1=Nyasha|last1=Chingono|first2=Jason|last2=Burke|work=The Guardian|date=12 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.africanews.com/2019/09/13/govt-officials-family-fly-to-singapore-to-bring-mugabe-s-body-to-zimbabwe/|title=Family accepts to bury Mugabe at Zimbabwe Heroes' Acre|publisher=[[Africanews]]|date=13 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/robert-mugabe-buried-week-village-family-190912083607386.html|title=Robert Mugabe to be buried next week in his village: Family|work=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=12 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref>

On 14 September 2019, Mugabe's [[state funeral]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/15/pomp-thin-crowds-mixed-feelings-as-robert-mugabe-laid-to-rest|title=Pomp, thin crowds and mixed feelings as Robert Mugabe is buried|first=Jason|last=Burke|work=The Guardian|date=15 September 2019|access-date=15 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.premier.org.uk/News/World/The-end-does-not-justify-the-means-say-Zimbabwean-bishops-as-Mugabe-s-funeral-takes-place|title='The end does not justify the means' say Zimbabwean bishops as Mugabe's funeral takes place|first=Cara|last=Bentley|publisher=Premier Christian Radio|date=14 September 2019|access-date=15 September 2019}}</ref> which was also open to public attendance, was held at the [[National Sports Stadium (Zimbabwe)|National Sports Stadium]], with an aerial photo showing the 60,000 capacity stadium to be about a quarter full.<ref name="africaleadersfuneral">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49686131|title=Mugabe funeral: Leader's body kept in hometown after state funeral
|work=BBC News|date=14 September 2019|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref> The funeral was attended by leaders and former leaders of various African countries, among them were Mnangagwa, [[Kenneth Kaunda]] of Zambia, [[Olusegun Obasanjo]] of Nigeria, [[Sam Nujoma]], [[Hifikepunye Pohamba]] and [[Hage Geingob]] of Namibia, [[Joseph Kabila]] of [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|DR Congo]], [[Uhuru Kenyatta]] of Kenya and [[Cyril Ramaphosa]] of South Africa.<ref name="africaleadersfuneral" />

On 26 September 2019, Nick Mangwana stated that Mugabe would be buried in his home town of Kutama "to respect the wishes of families of deceased heroes".<ref>{{cite news |title=Mugabe to be buried in home town after final twist in row |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49846340 |access-date=26 September 2019|work=BBC News |date=26 September 2019 }}</ref> The burial took place on 28 September in a courtyard of his family home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/28/africa/zimbabwe-robert-mugabe-buried-intl/index.html?no-st=1569797972|title=Zimbabwe's former President Robert Mugabe buried in his hometown|date=28 September 2019|last1=Chingono|first1=Mark|last2=Adebayo|first2=Bukola|access-date=30 September 2019|work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>