Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe
(1987 – Present)
Robert Mugabe has been President of Zimbabwe for decades and became a well-known figure in Zimbabwe (what was then Rhodesia) after he became the leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union. He was imprisoned for 10 years from 1964 to 1974 and when he was released he went to Mozambique to create a rebel force to start the Rhodesian Bush War. He won the election for Prime Minister in 1980 and became Prime Minister when Zimbabwe gained its independence. As soon as he came into power he started to consolidate it by creating a single-party state and employing a North Korean trained security force to deal with dissidents. In December of 1987, he declared himself President and consolidated all powers of the states and gave himself the power to dissolve the parliament and declare martial law.
Mugabe continues to win presidential elections due to widespread corruption and fraud. In the 2002 and 2008 elections, it was known that Mugabe built torture camps to punish anyone that would support his opponent. Many believe that fraud and corruption are the only reasons that Mugabe remains in power as he has driven a once economically successful country into ruin. Zimbabwe has the highest unemployment of any African country with about 70% unemployment. While his personal fortune does not seem like much compared to some of the other dictators in Africa, in a country with a GDP per capita of $953, a $10 million net worth is staggering. It is estimated that the country loses $1 billion of its $13 billion GDP to corruption every year.
Most of his corruption comes from his desires to consolidate power and rig the elections so that he can stay in power indefinitely. Even after agreeing to a power-sharing arrangement and trying to appease the international community, he is still known for looting the diamond deposits and killing or torturing his opposition.