I don't see that as him becoming a villain; I see that as him opening his eyes to the reality of the humiliating situation and attempting to put an end to it.
Mugabe's sins included staying on for decades as a dictator; and destroying the economy. Doing what needed to be done was not one of those sins.
"Reconciliation" with outsiders (that occupied your land) is revolting.
Honestly, the Mandela route was best but he got succeeded by amateurs in Mbeki and Zuma.
If he was a decade or two younger, South Africa would be in a better place. However, even then, South Africa is still a better performing economy today than it was under apartheid.