Jan 30, 2015 01:43 PM EST
Robert Mugabe News: Zimbabwe President Chosen As African Union Chairman Amid Human Rights Abuse Claims

One of the most controversial leaders in the African continent, the latest Robert Mugabe news sees the Zimbabwean politician elected as the head of the African Union for the year 2015, elected by the rest of the heads of States in the region.

Following a bout of hyperinflation from 2003 to 2009 in his country of origin, the different pieces of Robert Mugabe news have been favorable in the economic department, though not so much when it comes to human rights, besides the fact that the long-standing leader has been widely accused of election rigging in the past, as he's been in office as Zimbabwe's President since 1981.

According to Sky News, the latest Robert Mugabe news has been met with mixed comments, as choosing the president of the southern African nation has led a decades-long discourse over the fight against current colonialism, often speaking against the West, which could obviously take its toll on the relations of the continent to countries like the United States or the UK; however, many sources have said that the fact that he was chosen is merely symbolic.

"During my tenure as Chair, I will deliberately provoke your thoughts to pay special attention to issues of infrastructure, value addition, agriculture and climate change. Lack of infrastructure has hampered economic development in Africa," said Mugabe, according to The Associated Press, after drawing applause following a statement against colonialism.

The Guardian reports that, while the Robert Mugabe news shows him as a favorite among African leaders, he's been often seen as a man who is out of touch with his people and the times he lives in.

The British news outlet also points out that, at 90 years of age, the politician is part of a tiny 5 percent of Africans who manage to survive past the age of 60, as Africa is actually the youngest continent in the world, with 85 percent of the continent's population under the age of 45 and the life expectancy in the continent is 58.

Another issue with the latest Robert Mugabe news is the fact that his country is often ranked as one of the places on Earth with the least civil liberties, including vast police abuse, Mugabe's statements against gender equality and election rigging.

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