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Zimbabwe : Downfall of A Dictator

ABC News looks at the rise and fall of the former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.

On Sunday former ABC Africa Correspondent, Andrew Geoghegan presents a special report, Zimbabwe: Downfall of A Dictator.

This is a special half hour documentary looking at the rise and fall of the former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe and will screen on ABC News.

ABC News looks back at a turning point in modern history. Over six days, the leader of Zimbabwe was forced to resign after 37 years.

From political prisoner and freedom fighter who liberated his country from white colonial rule, Mugabe promised freedom, that soon turned to repression.

This week it was a swift, bloodless coup, ending nearly 40 years of tyranny.

Robert Mugabe’s ruthless rule led Zimbabwe to economic ruin and a reign of terror.

He once said, “Only God” could remove him. He was wrong.

The documentary examines the anatomy of a coup that brought an end to Mugabe’s rule, and looks at where to now for a country that has almost 90 percent unemployment, but is rich in resources.

The man poised to replace Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s president is Emmerson Mnangagwa – known as “The Crocodile”. He served for decades as Mugabe’s enforcer – a role that earned him a reputation for being astute, ruthless and good at manipulating the various levers of power.

Former ABC Africa Correspondent, Andrew Geoghegan presents this special report and will talk to ABC Africa correspondent Sally Sara, who has been on the ground amongst the people in the Zimbabwean capital Harare throughout the week. Plus Kerry Sibraa the former Australian High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Bright Matonga, former Deputy Minister of Media and Information in the Mugabe Government and married to the former strongman’s niece.

And also Bruce Mutsvairo, Zimbabwean born journalism academic, who just got back from Zimbabwe on Sunday where he’d been interviewing citizen journalists and local media about the political climate.

9:30pm Sunday on ABC News

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