Mugabe resigns under military pressure after 37 years as Zimbabwe’s leader

washingtonpost.com HARARE, Zimbabwe — Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s leader for nearly four decades, resigned on Tuesday, a week after the military moved to sideline him from power, according to the speaker of the country’s Parliament.

The capital erupted in cheers, with crowds pouring into the streets and citizens giving high-fives to soldiers.

Mugabe’s departure marked the end of a tumultuous reign that spanned the country’s independence through its economic collapse.

His exit marks a historic moment that will echo across Africa, where Mugabe was among the last surviving heroes of the anti-colonial struggle to remain in power.

In the end, the world’s oldest head of state was a victim of his own party. After years of purging members of his inner circle, Mugabe had alienated the leaders of Zimbabwe’s military, who detained him and seized control of the country’s government.

The resignation was announced after Mugabe’s former vice president called for him to heed the “clarion call” to step aside and parliament opening impeachment proceedings.

The demand by the influential former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, marked his first public statement since the military’s takeover last week that was widely expected to pave the way for Mnangagwa to replace Mugabe.

But Mugabe remained defiant for days and the military gave mixed signals about its next move — further clouding an already confusing tumble of events since the military intervened last week against the 93-year-old president.

On Monday, Zimbabwe’s military appeared to open the door for Mugabe to somehow stay in power during a transition period.

During the impeachment debate, some Parliament members cheered as the list of accusations was read, including claims that Mugabe attempted to “usurp constitutional” control by seeking to make his wife, Grace Mugabe, his successor.

An alliance between the military and Mnangagwa was at the core of a plan to replace Mugabe, who has ruled since the country became independent from Britain in 1980. (ontinueReading