Throughout his 37-year reign, the late Robert Mugabe dished out various funny, controversial, and rib-cracking gems. The following are seven of the craziest Robert Mugabe quotes.
On Hitler
During the state funeral of one of his cabinet ministers in 2003, Robert Mugabe compared himself to Adolf Hitler.
“I am still the Hitler of the time. This Hitler has only one objective: justice for his people, sovereignty for his people, recognition of the independence of his people, and their rights over their resources. If that is Hitler, then let me be Hitler tenfold. Ten times, that is what we stand for.”
On Homosexuality
Robert Mugabe was so much against homosexuality that he openly spoke about his displeasure many times. His homophobia even came up during the UN General Assembly in 2015.
“We equally reject attempts to prescribe ‘new rights’ that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions, and beliefs. We are not gays!”
Moreover, during a radio interview in Zimbabwe’s national station ZDC, he also made his feelings known. He said, “We ask, was he born out of homosexuality? We need continuity in our race, and that comes from the woman, and no to homosexuality. John and John, no; Maria and Maria, no. They are worse than dogs and pigs. I keep pigs and the male pig knows the female one.”
On US Presidents
Robert Mugabe was often demonised by the West but he never backed down. He had run-ins with various US presidents during his almost four decades of power.
During his 2015 radio interview with ZDC, he took a swipe at former US President Barrack Obama.
“I have just concluded, since President Obama endorses same-sex marriage, advocates homosexual people, and enjoys an attractive countenance, thus if it becomes necessary, I shall travel to Washington DC, get on my knee and ask his hand.”
On Imperialism
Robert Mugabe stayed in power for 37 years before he was overthrown by the army in 2017. During his reign, he crashed all opponents and described himself as the chosen one.
In an election Rally in 2008, he said,
“Only God, who appointed me, will remove me not the MDC (opposition party), not the British. Only God will remove me!”
On Britain
Robert Mugabe was not a friend of Britain. He took away farms belonging to white British settlers and gave them back to his people. Mugabe was always at crossroads with the British.
“Britain is a very cold, uninhabitable country with small houses.” He said this during a 2013 rally in Mutare.
“We are still exchanging blows with the British government. They are using gay gangsters. Each time I pass through London, the gangster regime of Blair ‘expresses its dismay’.”
This was aimed at an incident where a British citizen by the name Peter Tatchell tried to make a Citizen’s arrest. It was during Robert Mugabe’s visit to London in 1999.
On the Economy
Zimbabwe suffered economically. The recession hit hard during his tenure but Robert Mugabe kept his head high.
In an interview in 2007, he described Zimbabwe’s economy as the best in Africa despite the shortcomings.
“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.”
On Jesus
During a state address on his 88th birthday, he described himself as Jesus. He said:
“I have died many times, that’s where I have beaten Christ. Christ died once and resurrected once.”
While Robert Mugabe was heavily criticised by the West because of rampant corruption, incompetence and being a tyrant, he remained a hero to many Zimbabweans and Africans. However, he stayed in power long enough to see himself become a villain.
The devastating economic crisis and his long-overdue stay in power came back to haunt him. He was eventually overthrown by the military.
However, he did leave us with quotes that were divisive, controversial, and, in some cases, highly entertaining.
