Robert Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe Tuesday , parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda announced , bringing the curtain down on a 37 -year reign.

Mugabe was swept from power as his autocratic rule crumbled within days of a 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 .