45 years ago today, March 4, 1980 (January 18, 1980), Mugabe was about to form a black regime in Zimbabwe. Mugabe's guerrillas gather in Salisbury On March 4, 1980, Robert Mugabe, leader of Rhodesia's largest guerrillas, is about to become prime minister of the soon-to-be-independent Zimbabwe country. Mugabe's party won 57 seats in the 100-seat convention. Mugabe offered a position in his government for Joshua Nkomo, his fellow Patriotic Front coalition. He has hinted that some white people will be invited to join his government. In the past, Mugabe seemed to favor transforming the country with Marxism, but since his victory he has made it clear that he is a moderate socialist and has no intention of abolishing private property.