Blue Roof
{{Short description|House in Harare}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Blue Roof
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| building_type = Official residence
| architectural_style = Chinese
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| cost = £30 million
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| owner = Mugabe family
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| coordinates = {{coord|17|43|12|S|31|09|03|E|display=inline,title}}
| address =
| location_town = Borrowdale, Harare
| location_country = Zimbabwe
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| completion_date = 2006
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Blue Roof is the common name given to a mansion and former presidential palace in the suburb of Borrowdale in Harare, Zimbabwe. It was built in 2006 by the ZANU-PF political party as a family home for the then President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe. Following his death, ownership was transferred to the Mugabe family.
History
Robert Mugabe had been the Prime Minister and later President of Zimbabwe following its independence from the United Kingdom and reconstitution from the unrecognised Rhodesia. Previously he had occupied Zimbabwe House as Prime Minister and later State House as President with both being in Harare. Mugabe claimed plans were made in 1986 to build a new presidential palace for his family. In 2003, ZANU-PF signed a contract with a Yugoslavian firm to build it providing the Zimbabweans provided the materials. Mugabe claimed the construction was funded by donations from China and Malaysia as well as other countries.{{cite web |first=Stuart |last=Ramsay |url=https://news.sky.com/story/he-threw-a-bottle-in-disgust-the-day-i-got-under-robert-mugabes-skin-11803359 |title=Mugabe dead at 95 : The day I got under his skin |time=21:45 |publisher=Sky News |date=7 September 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2005/03/11/malaysia-probes-mugabe-donation/ |title=Malaysia probes Mugabe donation |publisher=The Zimbabwe Independent |date=11 March 2005 |access-date=19 January 2021}} The Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad donated RM100,000 worth of Malaysian timber for the construction.{{cite web|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/490964 |title=The time Mahathir gifted Mugabe timber |publisher=Malaysiakini.com |date= 6 September 2019|access-date=19 January 2021}} The total cost was estimated to be around £3 million and it took three years to build.{{cite book |first=Kay |last=Simbanda |title=Zimbabwe: the Sorry State |page=106 |publisher=Independent Publishing Platform |year=2008 |isbn=978-1438201573}} It gained the nickname of "Blue Roof" due to the blue coloured tiles from Shanghai, China used on the roof.{{cite web |url=https://www.thezimbabwean.co/2017/11/10-photos-president-mugabes-mansion-zimbabwe/ |title=10 photos from President Mugabe's mansion, Zimbabwe |publisher=The Zimbabwean |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=19 January 2021}}
In 2006, in preparation for the end of construction, Mugabe ordered a number of measures were put in. Owners of properties surrounding the palace were sent letters saying they faced eviction from their homes due to them being within a security area.{{cite web|url=http://www.swradioafrica.com/News_archives/files/2006/January/Thurs%2026%20Jan/lg-bth-paranoia-around-bob-palace.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122035925/http://www.swradioafrica.com/News_archives/files/2006/January/Thurs%2026%20Jan/lg-bth-paranoia-around-bob-palace.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=22 January 2021 |title=BTH: A look at Mugabe's palace and why he wants to evict his neighbours |publisher=South West Radio Africa |date=26 January 2006 |access-date=19 January 2021}} Critics alleged that was because Mugabe did not want people living near him.{{cite web|first=Peta |last=Thorneycroft |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatfeedback/4198819/Now-aristocrats-will-be-evicted-for-living-too-close-to-Mugabe.html |title=Now aristocrats will be evicted for living too close to Mugabe |url-access=subscription |publisher=Telegraph |date=20 January 2006 |access-date=19 January 2021}} Access to foot and vehicular traffic would also be restricted similar to the measures Mugabe had put in around State House.{{cite web|url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2006/03/24/mugabes-mansion-sealed-off/ |title=Mugabe's mansion sealed off |publisher=The Zimbabwe Independent|date=24 March 2006 |access-date=19 January 2021}}
Following the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état which removed Mugabe from office, he was placed under house arrest at Blue Roof by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42086775 |title=Zimbabwe: Mysteries remain about Mugabe's downfall |publisher=BBC News |date= 22 November 2017|access-date=19 January 2021}} Following Mugabe's death in 2019, his body lay in state at Blue Roof.{{cite web |first=Francis |last=Akhabley |url=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/inside-mugabes-opulent-blue-roof-mansion-where-his-body-lies-in-state-ahead-of-burial-photos |title=Inside Mugabe's opulent 'Blue Roof' mansion where his body lies in state ahead of burial |publisher=Face 2 Face Africa |date=13 September 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021}} Afterwards there was doubt as to who owned the mansion.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-mugabe/lawyer-says-establishing-mugabes-assets-will-take-a-long-time-idUKKBN1Y70RP?edition-redirect=uk |title=Lawyer says establishing Mugabe's assets will take a long time |date=3 December 2019 |work=Reuters |access-date=19 January 2021}} ZANU-PF claimed they owned it and hired a lawyer to ensure it was not listed as part of Mugabe's estate.{{cite web|url=https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/zanu-pf-says-mugabes-should-not-register-upmarket-blue-roof-other-property-as-part-of-mugabe-estate/5195224.html |title=Zanu PF Says Blue Roof, Other Upmarket Property Not Part of Late Mugabe's Assets |publisher=VOA Zimbabwe |date=6 December 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021}}{{cite web|last=Madzimure |first=Joseph |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201909160050.html |title=Zimbabwe: Zanu-PF Owns Blue Roof, Bona Mugabe's Residence |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=16 September 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021}} Despite reports it would become a museum, ZANU-PF announced they were handing it over to Mugabe's family to help ensure their security.{{cite web |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zanu-pf-to-transfer-blue-roof-mansion-to-mugabe-family-33942452 |title=Zanu-PF to transfer Blue Roof mansion to Mugabe family |publisher=IOL |date=3 October 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021}}