Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe. PHOTO | AFP
Robert Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe Tuesday,
parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda told lawmakers, ending a 37-year rule
defined by brutality and economic collapse.
"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 surprise resignation came on the day parliament had began impeachment proceedings against Mr Mugabe.
Lawmakers
began the historic impeachment debate shortly after ousted vice
president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who could be the country's next leader,
told the 93-year-old Mugabe to step down.
Mnangagwa,
formerly one of Mugabe's closest allies, said in a statement that
Zimbabweans had "clearly demonstrated without violence their insatiable
desire" for Mugabe to resign.
"It is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call," he said.
Mr Mugabe had previously refused to step down despite last week's military takeover, and days of protests against his rule.
He has been in power since independence in 1980.
Additional reporting by BD writer
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