ROBERT MUGABE: 30 years. Mr. Mugabe became Zimbabwe’s prime minister in 1980 following independence from Britain. The former Marxist guerrilla became president in 1987 and has held fast to that position despite a deep financial crisis pushing inflation above 164,900.3 percent. He formed a unity government in 2009 with opposition Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
PHOTO: Keld Navntoft/AFP/Newscom/File
