Robert Mugabe resigns as Zimbabwe president

 Robert Mugabe has finally stood down as Zimbabwe’s President just two days after he refused to resign.

The announcement comes after Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu PF, had begun the process to impeach him.

Mugabe was expected to resign on Sunday during a televised speech but he refused to go, instead vowing to reform his government.

Zimbabwe’s parliament erupted in cheers as the speaker announced the resignation of the president.

The speaker stopped impeachment proceedings to say they had received a letter from Mr Mugabe confirming the resignation “with immediate effect”.

Mr Mugabe said he is resigning immediately and voluntarily in order to have a “smooth transfer of power” .

The letter was read out in a cheering, dancing Parliament, which had been pursuing impeachment of the 93-year-old Mr Mugabe.

The resignation comes at the end of a week of events that began with the military moving in last week, angered by Mr Mugabe’s firing of his longtime deputy and the positioning of the unpopular first lady to succeed him.

Impeachment allegations against Mr Mugabe included that he “allowed his wife to usurp constitutional power” and that he is “of advanced age” and too incapacitated to rule.

Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since the end of white minority rule in 1980, was also accused of allowing unpopular first lady Grace Mugabe to threaten to kill the recently fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other officials.

Recently fired vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa earlier said Mugabe should acknowledge the nation’s “insatiable desire” for a leadership change and resign immediately.

Mnangagwa, known as The Crocodile, is widely expected to take over from the fallen dictator.

He said: “The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call and resign forthwith so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy.” (Agencies)