Robert Mugabe became the leader of the newly named country of Zimbabwe in 1980. That year, the nation won its long fight against British colonialism. The formerly white-ruled Rhodesia and its new leader quickly became the pride of southern Africa. Its farm economy was so successful that it became known as the “breadbasket” of the area. But white people, who were 5% of the population, owned nearly 75% of agricultural land. In trying to solve this problem, a once well-respected Mugabe government changed. Over almost 40 years as its leader, Mugabe’s rule became widely considered corrupt and murderous. The former president died on Friday at the age of 95, two years after being forced to give up power. Amnesty International says that he left behind a non-removable “stain on his country’s human rights record.”