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 .
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