Harare erupts with joy as Robert Mugabe accepts his fate

Published on 21/11/2017 - 18:46

Mugabe resigns as Zimbabwe's president after losing cabinet and party support.

Singing has replaced sighing on the streets of Zimbabwe with the news of President Robert Mugabe’s resignation.

The country has been holding its breath since the veteran leader refused to bow to pressure and an army takeover, and he seemed ready to fight to the last.

Check out how currency in #Zimbabwe has evolved over the last 3 decades pic.twitter.com/i7QWxl2z9H
— Isheanesu Shambare (@isheanesus) 21 novembre 2017

‘We have a bright future! Because we have all it takes! We have the best economy in the world! We have the minerals, we’ve got the land, we’ve got the skills, we’ve got learned people! Our people are educated and people are hardworking,’ enthused one woman.

#Zimbabwe #MugabeResigns This woman screams with joy “What about the peeps in SA, we are happy, come back home, we are happy, this is it!” pic.twitter.com/a2xK5Cd16R
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) 21 novembre 2017

Mugabe’s position became untenable when it became clear he had lost the support of his ministers and party.

#Zimbabwe This man shouts with joy, “I’m so happy my brother, after 37 years of misrule, mis-governance, looting, abuse of human rights – it was high time Mugabe go.” pic.twitter.com/khyhDHlIJo
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) 21 novembre 2017

Mugabe had clearly hoped to rally his government behind him. But the vast majority of his cabinet boycotted a Tuesday meeting, attending his impeachment hearings instead.

#MugabeResigns #Zimbabwe military really behaved well; much as they want to oust Mugabe out of power; they equally respect him.
There was no coup! #Mugabe resigned at his own pace and terms. Uncle Bob we will miss you!
— NG’ANG’A THE BLOGGER (@IamNjokiKelvin) 21 novembre 2017

Among the thousands of people celebrating could be seen people holding aloft pictures of army chief Constantino Chiwenga and former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa. The sacking of the latter precipitated Mugabe’s
downfall.

Bob: “Only God, who appointed me, will remove me!”
God: ?#Mugabe #MugabeResigns
— Ulrich J van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) 21 novembre 2017

Members of parliament congratulated each other for standing up to the former strongman.

Moment of jubilation from gallery as HouseSpeaker reads out #Mugabe Resignation letter pic.twitter.com/haReOI5L5q
— Audrey Chimwanda (@AudreyChimwanda) 21 novembre 2017

In the streets soldiers and civilians celebrated together. The army are the heroes of the hour, but Mugabe left no indication in his resignation statement about who should succeed him. Parliament says it hopes to nominate a new leader on Wednesday.