Former President Robert Mugabe |
Robert Mugabe has finally
resigned as president of Zimbabwe, a week after the army took to the streets. A
letter signed by Zimbabwe’s only president since 1980 said the decision was
voluntary. The Parliament confirmed receipt of the said letter and subsequently
suspended impeachment processes. Mugabe, 93, has been under intense pressure at
home and from outside to step down after 37 years in charge but had previously
refused.
Earlier today, Zimbabwe’s ruling
ZANU-PF resolved to bring a motion in parliament on Tuesday (November 21) to
impeach Mugabe, after an earlier deadline expired for the besieged leader to
resign and bring the curtain down on nearly four decades in power. There has
been celebrations across Zimbabwe after news filtered through that Mugabe had
accepted to leave. The state-run Herald Newspaper that until recently was
pro-Mugabe also confirmed the resignation. The surprise announcement halted an impeachment hearing that had
begun against him and sparked wild celebrations on the nation's streets. The ruling Zanu-PF party says former vice-president Emmerson
Mnangagwa will succeed Mr Mugabe, in power since 1980. Mr Mnangagwa's sacking earlier this month triggered a political
crisis. It had been seen by many as an attempt to clear the way for
Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband as leader and riled the military
leadership, who stepped in and put Mr Mugabe under house arrest. Mr Mugabe, 93, was until his
resignation was one of the world's oldest leader. He had previously refused to
quit despite last week's military takeover and days of protests. According to
the constitution his successor should have been the current vice-president,
Phelekezela Mphoko, a supporter of Grace Mugabe. But that seems not going to
work that way. Mugabe defied demands to step down for almost a week after a
military takeover and expulsion from his own ruling ZANU-PF party but stepped
down on Tuesday, hours after parliament started an impeachment process. Cheers
broke out in the parliament after speaker Jacob Mudenda read out Mugabe's
resignation letter. "I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 of the
constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation ... with
immediate effect," said Mudenda, reading the letter. The news also sparked
scenes of jubilation in the capital, Harare, as large crowds cheered, danced
and sang celebrating Mugabe's departure for hours. Celebrations also erupted in
central Johannesburg, in neighbouring South Africa, as Zimbabweans there also
took to the streets to cheer on the news. Mugabe's resignation brought an end
to the impeachment process initiated by ZANU-PF after its Central Committee
voted to dismiss him as party leader. Zanu-PF chief whip Lovemore Matuke told
Reuters news agency that Mr Mnangagwa would be in office "within 48
hours". Speaking from an undisclosed location earlier on Tuesday, Mr
Mnangagwa said he had fled abroad two weeks ago when he learned of a plot to
kill him.
Jubilations in the streets of Harare |
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