United Kingdom Prime Minister, Theresa May, Tuesday, affirmed that the resignation of 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe provides “Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule.”
In a terse statement on her Facebook page, May said: “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.
“As Zimbabwe’s oldest friend, we will do all we can to support this, working with our international and regional partners to help the country achieve the brighter future it so deserves.”
Mugabe’s resignation was announced by Parliament Speaker, Jacob Mudenda, bringing the curtain down on his 37-year dictatorial reign.
Mugabe was swept from power as his autocratic rule crumbled within days of a bloodless military takeover.
“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 bombshell news was delivered to a special joint session of parliament.
Lawmakers had convened to debate a motion to impeach Mugabe, who has dominated every aspect of Zimbabwean public life since independence in 1980.
It was greeted on the streets of the capital Harare with car horns and wild cheering.
It capped an unprecedented week in which the military seized control, tens of thousands of Zimbabwean citizens took to the streets to demand the president go and 93-year-old Mugabe wrestled to remain in power.
Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe almost unopposed since the country won independence from Britain.
But his efforts to position his wife Grace as his successor triggered fury in the military that had underpinned his regime.
