Robert Mugabe was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017. He was a key figure in the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule and became known for his role in establishing a new government in Zimbabwe. Mugabe's leadership was marked by significant economic challenges, political repression, and controversial land reform policies that led to the seizure of white-owned farms. His tenure was characterized by a decline in living standards and widespread criticism from international observers and human rights organizations.