Finally #Mugabe resigns after 37 years in power…. confirms Speaker of Parliament

President Robert Mugabe resigned on Tuesday in a letter submitted to parliament, Speaker Jacob Mudenda said. Wild jubilation broke out among MPs when Mudenda told the House. 

The resignation letter written by Mugabe that was read out by the speaker of the country’s parliament made no mention of who he was leaving in charge of the country. The speaker added that he was working on legal issues to make sure a new leader was in place by the end of Wednesday.

Thousands of Zimbabweans poured onto the streets of Harare after Mugabe resigned and cars were hooting in the streets. Some people were holding posters of Zimbabwean army chief Constantino Chiwenga and former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking this month triggered the military takeover that forced Mugabe to resign. Reuters

Jonathan Moyo on Twitter

“There’ll never be anyone like Cde RG Mugabe. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served my country under & with him. I’m proud that I stood with & by this iconic leader during the trying moments of the last days of his Presidency. Democracy requires politics to lead the gun!”

British Prime Minister Theresa May

British Prime Minister Theresa May said; “The resignation of Robert Mugabe provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule.

“In recent days, we have seen the desire of the Zimbabwean people for free and fair elections and the opportunity to rebuild the country’s economy under a legitimate government.”

May added that Britain, as “Zimbabwe’s oldest friend”, would do all it could to support the country.

Calls for National Dialogue

 Zimbabwe’s Platform for Concerned Citizens, a civil society group, called on Tuesday for a far-reaching national dialogue involving all political parties to help plot a new course for the country after the resignation of Robert Mugabe.

“A National Transitional Authority must be the final outcome of a national dialogue,” the PCC said in a statement. “We have informed both the government and the military of our view.”

Zimbabweans in South Africa

Zimbabweans took to the streets of the Yeoville and Hillbrow districts of the South African city of Johannesburg on Tuesday to celebrate news of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s resignation.

Around 3 million Zimbabweans have emigrated from their home country to South Africa in search of work following Zimbabwe’s economic collapse. Reuters