The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Robert Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe Tuesday, parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda announced, bringing the curtain down on a 37-year reign.
Mugabe was swept from power as his autocratic rule crumbled within days of a military takeover.
“I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 of the constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation… with immediate effect,” said speaker Mudenda, reading the letter.
The bombshell news was delivered to a special joint session of parliament.
Lawmakers had convened to debate a motion to impeach Mugabe, who has dominated every aspect of Zimbabwean public life since independence in 1980.
It was greeted on the streets of the capital Harare with car horns and wild cheering.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s ousted deputy president Emmerson Mnangagwa asked Mugabe to respect public opinion and step down and said he would only return home when his security was assured.
“The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign, so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy,” Mnangagwa said in a statement.
Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe shortly being sacked by Mugabe early this month.
President Mugabe resigns: https://t.co/nVXRBGSkQL via @YouTube
— The Herald Zimbabwe (@HeraldZimbabwe) November 21, 2017
The moment the speaker of Zimbabwe’s parliament read out Robert Mugabe’s letter of resignation https://t.co/ookRf1pBzM pic.twitter.com/eT5kRpNpnM
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 21, 2017
The resignation capped an unprecedented week in which the military seized control, tens of thousands of Zimbabwean citizens took to the streets to demand the president go and 93-year-old Mugabe wrestled to remain in power.
Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe almost unopposed since the country won independence from Britain.
But his efforts to position his wife Grace as his successor triggered fury in the military that had underpinned his regime.
Mugabe’s resignation letter in full
President Robert Mugabe’s resignation letter was read out by Zimbabwe parliamentary Speaker Jacob Mudenda to lawmakers gathered at a conference centre in Harare to discuss an impeachment motion on Tuesday.
It read:
State House
Harare
Zimbabwe
21 November 2017
The Honourable Jacob Mudenda
Notice of resignation as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
In terms of the provisions of section 96 (1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe, amendment number 20, 2013.
Following my verbal communication with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda at 13:53 hours, 21st November, 2017 intimating my intention to resign as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 (1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe with immediate effect.
My decision to resign is voluntary on my part and arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire to ensure a smooth, peaceful and non-violent transfer of power that underpins national security, peace and stability.
Kindly give public notice of my resignation as soon as possible as required by section 96 (1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe.
Yours faithfully,
Robert Gabriel Mugabe President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
