How Social Media Users Reacted To The Death Of Zimbabwe's Mugabe

Zimbabwe's longest-serving president Robert Mugabe has died at age 95 in Singapore.

This was announced by the current president Emmerson Mnangagwa on Twitter. "It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe's founding father and former President, Cde Robert Mugabe," tweeted Mnangagwa on Friday.

"Cde Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and continent will never be forgotten. May his soul rest in eternal peace", his tweet read.

Mugabe, who infamously claimed that "only God" could ever remove him from office, was deposed in a coup in 2017, when members of his own party turned against him after he dismissed then vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa to make way for his wife, Grace.

To his loyal supporters, he remained until his death the revered leader who ushered in independence after bringing an end to white-minority rule; but to his critics, Mugabe was the caricature of an African dictator who oppressed his opponents and ruined a country to retain power, which he was forced to relinquish, at the age of 93, in 2017.

His death has sparked a lot of conversations on among users on social media.

It is true that people will love you when you are dead, but can that be said of Robert Mugabe who was criticized by many Africans?

Some have described him as the ‘greatest Pan Africanist’ who fought to protect his country’s lands. He is also celebrated for his controversial quotes:

- "I have died many times. That's where I have beaten Christ. Christ died once and resurrected once. I have died and resurrected and I don't know how many times I will die and resurrect."

- "Some are saying 'Mr Mugabe is old, so he should step down'... No! When my time comes, I will tell you."

- "(President Barack) Obama came to Africa saying Africa must allow gay marriages... God destroyed the Earth because of these sins. Weddings are for a man and a woman."

- “The only white man you can trust is a dead white man”

- "Our economy is a hundred times better, than the average African economy. Outside South Africa, what country is [as good as] Zimbabwe? … What is lacking now are goods on the shelves - that is all."

Here are some tweets:

What's all this tosh about #RIPMugabe? He was an incompetent, violent goon whose racist, forced seizure and redistribution of land not only caused famine but ran his country into the ground. What next, anniversary for Stalin?


— (RS)-Propan-2-yl methylphosphonofluoridate (@2Propan) 6 September 2019

Some will call him liberator. Some will call him oppressor. Both will probably be right... #RIPMugabe, may your victims and your followers find peace in your death


— Ryan Cummings (@Pol_Sec_Analyst) 6 September 2019

What separated Mugabe from the rest was guts, he had the guts to speak his mind, excellent orator and great sense of humor

"white faces and pink noses"#RipMugabe pic.twitter.com/p42spHCKbL


— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) 6 September 2019

I’ve learned that the Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 old man is no more

Despite his flaws which seemed superseding his good deeds ,the man stood firm on a vision for African independence ,May his vision lives amongst those with its interest at heart #RipMugabe pic.twitter.com/U7Duh2e9P9

— Malusi  (@malusi_dzanibe) 6 September 2019

Mugabe was a great African but a terrible Zimbabwean. He was like that African father who is admired in the village but beats yo mother every night, doesn't pay school fees for his kids and always blames his neighbors for his own short-comings. #RIPMugabe pic.twitter.com/7eRlToZ1ga

— Nhlanhla Sigabade (@DNhlasigabade) 6 September 2019

you guys are sick. celebrating a man’s death? imagine logging into social media and seeing people are happy that your dad has passed away. how has his death benefited any of you to the point where you need to celebrate his death? sick, chaldish and very disappointing #RIPMugabe

— Quєєn Lílч ✨ (@queenlilyyyy_) 6 September 2019

A hero? Villain?. The chief author of our political and economic misery. Our liberator from the white minority and our black colonizer. #RIPMugabe pic.twitter.com/NIoHEPS6D2


— La tee. (@TafxdzwaChimz) 6 September 2019

I hope one day africans let go of this culture of faking love after death while they failed to give you that love while you were alive. Jiki jiki everyone loves Mugabe?? How? Jwang?

#RIPMugabe pic.twitter.com/SwZ7ds8k2P


— Mo_Dise® (@MO__Modise) 6 September 2019

My favorite Mugabe Speech 😂 #RipMugabe pic.twitter.com/D2t1sC6pdy


— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) 6 September 2019

#RIPMugabe "Keep your Britain and let me keep my Zimbabwe"

It was a bumpy ride but securing of land for your people will forever be remembered.

RIP RGM pic.twitter.com/7eHbdmbRnb

— CUBA🇿🇦™ (@TakaTina1) 6 September 2019

What separated Mugabe from the rest was guts, he had the guts to speak his mind, excellent orator and great sense of humor

"white faces and pink noses"#RipMugabe pic.twitter.com/p42spHCKbL

— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) 6 September 2019