Robert Mugabe Resigns as Zimbabwe’s President, Ending 37-Year Rule
- 6 years ago
Robert Mugabe Resigns as Zimbabwe’s President, Ending 37-Year Rule
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and once proclaimed
that "only God will remove me," resigned as president on Tuesday shortly after lawmakers began impeachment proceedings against him.
The party’s political rival, the Movement for Democratic Change, seconded the motion, a striking sign of the consensus in the political class
that Mr. Mugabe must go — one that formed with astonishing speed after the military took Mr. Mugabe into custody last Wednesday.
The speaker of the Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, read out a letter in which Mr. Mugabe said he was stepping down "with immediate effect" for "the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe
and the need for a peaceful transfer of power." Lawmakers erupted into cheers, and jubilant residents poured into the streets of Harare, the capital.
"But being related does not necessarily mean there was any economic relations between us — none at all." On Tuesday night, it was unclear what guarantees Mr. Mugabe
and his family had received in return for resigning — whether they had been granted immunity, would be allowed to live in the country or keep their wealth.
Jonathan Moyo — a leader of Mrs. Mugabe’s G-40 faction — said in a tweet Monday that he had left the country along with 50 other people.
It’s the best news in 37 years!" In an interview with The New York Times in 2016, Mr.
Chiyangwa said he was a member of G-40, the faction that had been led by Mrs. Mugabe.
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and once proclaimed
that "only God will remove me," resigned as president on Tuesday shortly after lawmakers began impeachment proceedings against him.
The party’s political rival, the Movement for Democratic Change, seconded the motion, a striking sign of the consensus in the political class
that Mr. Mugabe must go — one that formed with astonishing speed after the military took Mr. Mugabe into custody last Wednesday.
The speaker of the Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, read out a letter in which Mr. Mugabe said he was stepping down "with immediate effect" for "the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe
and the need for a peaceful transfer of power." Lawmakers erupted into cheers, and jubilant residents poured into the streets of Harare, the capital.
"But being related does not necessarily mean there was any economic relations between us — none at all." On Tuesday night, it was unclear what guarantees Mr. Mugabe
and his family had received in return for resigning — whether they had been granted immunity, would be allowed to live in the country or keep their wealth.
Jonathan Moyo — a leader of Mrs. Mugabe’s G-40 faction — said in a tweet Monday that he had left the country along with 50 other people.
It’s the best news in 37 years!" In an interview with The New York Times in 2016, Mr.
Chiyangwa said he was a member of G-40, the faction that had been led by Mrs. Mugabe.