ROBERT MUGABE HAS FINALLY RESIGNED

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