This was to avoid humiliation of impeachment. Mugabe has been at the helm since 1980.
Mugabe’s downfall has been hailed by his comrades in the ruling ZANU-PF and ordinary Zimbabweans, who poured out into the streets jubilantly.
Some Zimbabweans citizens living in South Africa welcomed the decision and some hinted the thought of going back home to realize the changes if they’re real.
“I am glad he decided to resign, that is what many of us who would like to remain respecting his legacy, respecting the role he played, “says Baleka Mbete – Speaker and ANC chairperson.
She told reporters at the launch of a report on Tuesday evening from a panel, led by former president Kgalema Motlanthe, that assessed the efficacy of South African legislation.
The report was handed to Mbete.
Motlanthe said Mugabe’s resignation was the “right thing to do”.
“Running government at that age was quite taxing, for his own health and he had to give the country an opportunity to come under leadership that still has the energy ….so it was the right thing to do,” he said.
He said there were no direct lessons for South Africa as its president was elected by Parliament, while Zimbabweans directly elected their president.
The army’s unexpected move to detain Mugabe was seen as an attempt to block his wife Grace from taking over the as president ahead of ZANU-PF’s elective conference in December.
She pushed for the firing of vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa after leading a sustained public attack and insults against him.
Mbete praised the military, saying they were smart and responsible forcing Mugabe to see reason to step down.
“The problem being faced there was not easy, because among the major challenges was that they were dealing with his wife. So they couldn’t be as rough as may have been required or the way she would have been,” Mbete said.
Mnangagwa is expected to take over soon.
Elections are expected to take place in 2018 and expectations is economy will have to improve as the starting point plan.
What’s next for Mugabe, his flamboyant boys and wife Grace, remains to be seen…
Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma will no longer be travelling to Zimbabwe on Wednesday, in the wake of the resignation of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.
“President Jacob Zuma will no longer travel to Harare in the Republic of Zimbabwe… on Wednesday 22 November 2017,” the Presidency said in a statement.
“The SADC Organ Troika Plus SADC Chairperson Summit that met in Angola today [Tuesday], 21 November 2017, had taken a decision that the SADC Chairperson, President Zuma and the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Joao Lourenco of Angola should travel to Zimbabwe to assess the situation on behalf of SADC.
“The visit has now been postponed until further notice.”
