World

Robert Mugabe resigns after 37 years as Zimbabwe parliament begins impeachment proceedings

Zimbabweans gather to pray for the country in a park opposite the parliament building in Harare Picture: Ben Curtis/AP
Zimbabweans gather to pray for the country in a park opposite the parliament building in Harare Picture: Ben Curtis/AP Zimbabweans gather to pray for the country in a park opposite the parliament building in Harare Picture: Ben Curtis/AP

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has resigned as president after 37 years in power, as parliament began impeachment proceedings against him.

“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 for a smooth, non-violent transfer of power,” Mr Mugabe said in a letter which was read out in parliament, sparking cheers and dancing.

Cars began honking horns and people cheered in the streets, as the news spread like wildfire across the capital, Harare.

Mr Mugabe, who had been the world’s oldest head of state at 93, said that proper procedures should be followed to install new leadership.

Mr Mugabe’s resignation brought an end to the impeachment proceedings begun by the ruling ZANU-PF party after its


Central Committee voted to oust the president as party leader and select recently fired vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa as his replacement.

A ruling party official said Mr Mnangagwa would take over as leader within 48 hours.

Mr Mnangagwa, who is still in exile, served for decades as Mr Mugabe’s enforcer, with a reputation for being astute and ruthless.

Before the resignation, crowds rallied outside parliament, dancing and singing.

Some people placed photos of Mr Mugabe in the street so that cars would run over them.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC party said the culture of the ruling party “must end” and everyone must put their heads together and work towards free and fair elections.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Mnangagwa said in a statement that Mr Mugabe should acknowledge the nation’s “insatiable desire” for a leadership change and resign immediately.

Mr Mnangagwa added to immense pressure on Mr Mugabe to quit after nearly four decades in power, during which he evolved from a champion of the fight against white minority rule into a figure blamed for a collapsing economy, government dysfunction and human rights violations.

Zimbabwe’s polarising first lady, Grace Mugabe, had been positioning herself to succeed her husband, leading a party faction that engineered Mr Mnangagwa’s removal.

The prospect of a dynastic succession alarmed the military, which confined Mr Mugabe to his home last week and targeted what it called “criminals” around him who allegedly were looting state resources – a reference to associates of the first lady.

Mr Mnangagwa was targeted by US sanctions in the early 2000s for undermining democratic development in Zimbabwe, according to the Atlantic Council, a US-based policy institute. 

However, J Peter Pham, an Africa expert at the council, said some opposition figures have appeared willing to have dialogue with Mr Mnangagwa in order to move the country forward and that the international community should consider doing the same.

“We’re not saying whitewash the past, but it is in the interests of everyone that Zimbabwe is engaged at this critical time,” Mr Pham said in a statement.