Robert Mugabe, the world’s oldest leader and President of Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, has resigned as president, after a week of chaos in which the country’s armed forces took over the media and organs of the state.
The speaker of Zimbabwe’s parliament read out a statement from Mugabe in which he said he was stepping down from the office of President “with immediate effect” for “the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and the need for a peaceful transfer of power.”
Here is the moment Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe’s resignation was read in parliament https://t.co/AQRyPj5WX3 pic.twitter.com/rRdSxwCGQg
— CNN (@CNN) November 21, 2017
The ruling ZANU-PF party say that former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa – who Mugabe axed from his post just last week – would take over as leader. Mnangagwa’s sacking was seen by some as a way of clearing the stage for Mugabe’s wife Grace Mugabe to take the presidency.
Following the announcement, thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets in spontaneous protest. Mugabe’s rule has been divisive, with supporters pointing to his decolonisation of the country and successes in education and literacy, and opponents saying he economically ruined the country and has ruled with an iron fist.
Mnangagwa was deeply immersed in Mugabe’s government – he was an intelligence chief for some time – and was involved in many of the decisions many criticise Mugabe for. He is accused of running a secret police force which participated in political repression, especially in the leadup to the contentious 2008 election, but that seems far from the population’s mind right now.
We’ll keep you updated.
