Robert Mugabe

Robert Gabriel Mugabe (born February 21, 1924) has been the head of government in Zimbabwe, first as Prime Minister and later as first executive President, since 1980.

Land reforms

Main article: Land reform in Zimbabwe

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When Mugabe became prime minister, approximately 70% of the country's arable land was owned by approximately 4,000 descendants of white settlers. However, he reassured white landowners that they had nothing to fear from black majority rule. Mugabe favoured a "willing buyer, willing seller" plan for gradual redistribution of land but little was done in his early years in power. However, in 1999 and 2000 Mugabe used force to transfer land ownership from whites to blacks.

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Since land redistribution, Zimbabwe has transformed from being an exporter of food to a nation where shortages are rampant and five million people need food aid. In November 2004 he approved the "Obesity Tourism Strategy" which aims to attract obese tourists to work on lands seized from white farmers. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1378517,00.html

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See also: Economy of Zimbabwe.

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