How did Robert Mugabe come to power?

Essentially, Robert Mugabe came to hold the amount of
power he now has through the corrupt use of political power.  Mugabe first came to power
through democratic means, but he then used the power that he had to take still more
power until he eventually came to have dictatorial powers over
Zimbabwe.

Mugabe became active in politics in the early
1960s, decades before Zimbabwe became independent.  He eventually rose to be the leader
of one faction of the black Zimbabweans' movement for independence.  His faction was
called the ZANU.  When elections were finally held in 1979, Mugabe's faction won the
majority of seats and Mugabe became Prime Minister.  By 1987, Mugabe was President and
has held that position ever since.

Once Mugabe became
President, he used his political powers to chase his rivals out of the country and to
oppress those who stayed.  This eventually allowed him to become the a
dictator.

Please follow the links below for much more
detailed information -- especially the salem-history link.