Mnangagwa pays tribute to Zim founding father Robert Mugabe

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has paid tribute to Zimbabwe’s founding leader, the late Robert Mugabe, describing him as a revolutionary whose contribution to the liberation and development of the country continues to shape Zimbabwe’s future.

Mnangagwa made the remarks in a commemorative statement on Sunday, 6 September 2026, marking the seventh anniversary of Mugabe’s death.

“Today, 6th September 2026, our nation joins the Mugabe family in commemorating the passing on of Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the founding leader of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa said.

Mnangagwa hails Mugabe’s liberation struggle

The President described Mugabe as a revolutionary who led Zimbabwe through the armed struggle against colonial rule, culminating in independence on 18 April 1980.

He said Mugabe’s political journey reflected sacrifice, resilience and an unwavering commitment to the liberation of Zimbabwe and the wider African continent.

Mugabe spent 11 years in prison under the colonial government before his release in 1974. He later crossed into Mozambique in 1975, where he played a leading role in the final phase of the armed liberation struggle.

That struggle eventually led to the Lancaster House Conference in 1979 and Zimbabwe’s independence the following year.

Mugabe’s Pan-African legacy

Mnangagwa also highlighted Mugabe’s wider Pan-African outlook, saying the former leader worked alongside other African liberation leaders to end colonialism and apartheid across the continent.

Among those leaders were former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda, Angola’s Agostinho Neto, Mozambique’s Samora Machel and Botswana’s Seretse Khama.

Mnangagwa said Mugabe remained committed to the liberation of the African continent even after Zimbabwe gained independence.

Mnangagwa highlights Mugabe’s land reform legacy

However, Mnangagwa said Mugabe’s contribution went beyond political independence.

He singled out the Land Reform Programme, which Mugabe’s government launched at the turn of the millennium, as one of the former leader’s most significant legacies.

“Never to be satisfied with titular political independence, the founding father of our nation led the Third Chimurenga for the recovery of our birthright, land, through the Land Reform Programme,” Mnangagwa said.

The President described the programme as an “epochal transformation of property relations” that placed Zimbabwe at the forefront of post-colonial Africa’s efforts to address land ownership.

He said the programme, together with investments in education and skills development, created a foundation for economic empowerment and contributed to Zimbabwe’s long-term development ambitions under Vision 2030.

Zimbabwe remembers its founding leader

Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans would continue to honour Mugabe’s contribution and preserve the values associated with the liberation struggle.

“As a people and a nation, we continue to pay tribute to him, and to cherish the rich and priceless legacy he bequeathed to our nation, and which is sure to inspire generations to come,” he said.

He also reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to independence, unity, peace and freedom, ideals that Mugabe and other liberation leaders championed during the struggle against colonial rule.