Farai Dziva|There are conflicting views on the passing of former President of Zimbabwe Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

While some say Mugabe was a legend some believe he was responsible for the economic meltdown in the country.

Sadc.org has compiled a brief excerpt about Mugabe’s life:

Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924 in Kutama, formerly known as Southern Rhodesia.

The late politician ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years through controversial elections but his party forced him to resign in November 2017.

He also reluctantly accepted a power-sharing agreement with opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in 2008, overseen by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and brokered by then South African president Thabo Mbeki.

To some Mugabe was a liberator while to others he was a ruthless dictator.

Some controversial aspects of his legacy were the massacre of more than 20,000 Ndebele civilians in an operation that become known as the Gukarakundi, various reforms that changed the constitution and tightened his grip on power, the seizure of land from white farmers; and massive economic upheaval that left Zimbabwe with the highest rate of inflation in the world.