Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe Awarded he Confucius Prize(China's version of the Nobel Peace Prize)

 

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been awarded the Confucius Prize and praised his leadership in 'overcoming hardship.'

A statement from the prize committee declared that Mugabe had helped to improve the welfare of his people, despite the continual use of intimidation and detainment. 

'Ever since Robert Mugabe was sworn in as the president of Zimbabwe in the 1980s, he has worked hard to bring political and economic order to the country and to improve the welfare of the Zimbabwean people by overcoming hardship,' the statement said. 

Robert Mugabe(91) picked up the prize after beating off competition from other candidates, including Microsoft founder and renowned philanthropist Bill Gates and South Korea's president Park Geun-hye.

Robert Mugabe has presided over the country for 35 years despite lengthy periods of economic and political turmoil. 

The Confucius prize latest winner follows in the footsteps of previous winners Vladimir Putin and Fidel Castro.