Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe Elections 2008

In light of the fact that tomorrow is the scheduled date of the Zimbabwean presidential run-off which Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out of, but which Mugabe insists on going ahead with, taking a look at Mugabe's chart seems a topical theme.

A while ago I wrote a short piece on Mugabe for a Facebook group (The Uranus Club), and I've taken the liberty of importing some of it:

"I discovered (through a Google search) that Robert Mugabe was born on the 21st of February 1924. I do not expect to find an authoritative birth time for him (though I'd love to know what it is if any of you have more information), so we'll have to make do with an incomplete chart.

Here are the approximate Tropical Zodiac positions for 21 February 1924:

Sun 1 Pisces
Moon 4-18(?) Virgo
Mercury 9 Aquarius
Venus 9 Aries
Mars 20 Sagittarius
Jupiter 16 Sagittarius
Saturn 2 Scorpio
Uranus 16 Pisces
Neptune 18 Leo
Pluto 10 Cancer
True Node 2 Virgo

It is immediately conspicuous that he was born close to the time of a Full Moon, since the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs. The fact that the Nodal axis is close to the Sun and Moon indicates that this Full Moon would have been a Lunar Eclipse, and in fact the ephemeris informs us that there was a Total Lunar Eclipse the previous day (20 February 1924) at 16:09 GMT.

You may recall that there was a Total Lunar Eclipse on the 21st of February 2008, and this eclipse occurred at almost the exact same part of the zodiac as the eclipse just before Mugabe's birth- this recent eclipse would therefore obviously have held great significance for him. Although eclipses are in themselves considered a little ominous, it was the presence of Saturn close to the Moon at the time of this recent eclipse that made it somewhat more grave for those whom it was poised to influence most directly.
Quite apart from this recent eclipse the simple fact that Saturn has lately entered Virgo and is therefore in Opposition to Mugabe's Sun and Conjunct his Moon (though we can't be sure when this Transit will be exact) suffices to mark this period as critical in his career. Transiting Saturn in Opposition to Natal Sun is never easy, and is often profoundly difficult. It always places pressure on your “life structure”, and it is not uncommon for people to experience an irrevocable crumbling of some aspect of their lives that is simply not able to withstand the test. This crumbling will typically occur in the person's professional life and/or personal relationships (such as a marriage). Transiting Saturn in Opposition to Natal Sun is not great for general health and vitality either, and not the type of state in which to assert yourself boldly and recklessly. The ephemeris shows that this configuration is in especially sharp focus for Robert during April and May of 2008 (and the effect may still be evident for some time thereafter). The eclipse on his birthday this year was a “forewarning” of sorts (of the current events) and certainly serves to amplify the power of the prevailing Saturn/Sun Opposition.

Note that Robert Mugabe was born with a near exact Sun/Saturn Trine in his natal chart. This is certainly the signature of the long-lived and highly respected patriarch. As Desmond Tutu recently said, if he had surrendered control about 10 years ago he would have been held in high regard by posterity. I also find it interesting that, looking at his chart through the eyes of the Sidereal Zodiac, his Sun is in Aquarius and his Moon in Leo (and don't forget the natal Nodes are here too). This polarity represents “democracy vs. autocracy”, or “the people” as opposed to “the monarch”; a theme that has been exceptionally pronounced in his career. He has been both liberator and tyrant in his lifetime.

At the time of the recent eclipse (which highlighted Saturn, since Saturn was close to the Moon at the time) I pondered the significance of Saturn being in Leo, in terms of the Sidereal Zodiac. Saturn's association with failing and falling, and Leo's association with authority and kingship led me to form the interpretation that this could imply that “kings would be deposed”. I was tempted to post this interpretation with my notes on the eclipse for the Uranus Club, but I was not confident enough about it. The resignation of Fidel Castro around that time did hint to me that this was not, perhaps, an unreasonable line of speculation though."

Well, one reason why I'm revisiting this topic now is because within just a few days, early in July, Mars will enter Virgo and Oppose Mugabe's Sun (a very confrontational combination), and although we can't be sure when, Mars will in the weeks thereafter also cross over his natal Moon (and remember that Mars is here combining it's energies with Saturn which has been in Virgo since September 2007). This implies a period of aggressiveness in Mugabe's world, which in light of recent developments, would probably be dramatic, to say the least!

Shortly after the first 2008 election in March I did a horary chart (a horary chart is a chart cast for the moment that a question is asked), using Vedic astrology, asking whether or not Mugabe would win. Mars was in the 1st House in (Sidereal) Gemini in this map, showing militancy and the potential for violence, which at the time was far less obvious than it has been lately. Mercury, the Ascendant ruler for that chart, was located in the 10th House and debilitated in Pisces, implying false public information regarding the outcome. So, as much of the world is saying, even if Mugabe does win, the result is illegitimate and controversial.