1980 2017 MUGABE RESIGNSEuphoria after news of resignation
PRESIDENT Mugabe resigned from office yesterday following a week of unrelenting pressure from the public and his own party Zanu-PF for him to step down after 37 years at the helm.
Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda made the announcement during a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate at the Harare International Conference Centre that was debating a motion to impeach the now former President.
It was during the debate that Advocate Mudenda received the President’s correspondence announcing his resignation before he terminated business.
Reads the resignation letter: “The honourable Jacob Mudenda, notice of resignation as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in terms of the provisions of Section 96 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment Number 20), 2013. Following my verbal communication with the Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda at 13:53 hours, 21st November, 2017 intimating my intention to resign as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe with immediate effect.
“My decision to resign is voluntary from my heart and arises from my concern for the people of Zimbabwe and my desire for the smooth, peaceful and non-violent transfer of power that underpins national security, peace and stability. Kindly give public notice of my resignation as soon as possible as required by section 96 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
Section 96(1) which deals with Resignation of President or Vice President says, “The President may resign his or her office by written notice to the Speaker who must give public notice of the resignation as soon as it is possible to do so and in any event within twenty-four hours.’’
Advocate Mudenda said he would make further pronouncements on the way forward today.
“In terms of the Constitution it beholds the Speaker of the National Assembly to make sure that the proper legal processes are put in place so that the country can proceed forward with a President in place and this would be done by not later than end of day tomorrow (today),” he said.
The announcement was followed by jubilation among legislators and members of the public that had come to witness the impeachment proceedings at the HICC.
The joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament had been convened to discuss the President’s impeachment after he had failed to resign on Monday, as directed by Zanu-PF’s Central Committee on Sunday.
The motion was moved by Senator Cde Monica Mutsvangwa (Zanu-PF) and seconded by MabvukuTafara Representative Mr James Maridadi (MDC-T).
Cde Mugabe stood accused of serious misconduct interalia abrogating his constitutional mandate to his wife who was making utterances on business of Government and accessing classified information without constitutional authority.
The former President was also accused of causing disaffection among the Zimbabwe Defence Forces by allowing his wife to make false and reckless allegations against them.
He also stood accused of ignoring corruption and inability to perform functions of his Office because of alleged physical or mental incapacity. WILD cheers erupted in Bulawayo late yesterday afternoon as news spread that Cde Mugabe had finally resigned as the country’s leader after 37 years in office.
Residents broke into song and dance, with motorists sounding the horns of their vehicles as they celebrated the end of Cde Mugabe’s political career.
Cde Mugabe resigned as the country’s leader after Zanu-PF recalled him as its First Secretary on Sunday and gave him an ultimatum to resign by midday Monday, or risk impeachment.
The deadline came and went and the impeachment process started yesterday afternoon and terminated a few hours later after he resigned.
The news about his resignation was greeted by wild celebrations, with a euphoric atmosphere engulfing the City of Kings.
That kind of atmosphere is usually experienced in Bulawayo to mark the beginning of a new year. However, yesterday’s cheers were the sort that was never experienced in decades.
Only those who saw the dawn of Independence in 1980 could make a comparison.
A Chronicle news crew moved around the city and observed scores of people in jubilation over his departure as head of Government.
Some converged at the statue of former VicePresident Joshua Nkomo at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street.
“Nkomo’s statue is a symbol of the country’s struggles. He was called Father Zimbabwe for a reason. Hence I’m here to celebrate that President Mugabe is gone at his statue. Today we are seeing a new era, the country has been liberated, I never thought this day will come,” said Mr Michael Dube from Gwabalanda suburb.
Residents who were at the statue sang the national anthem saying it was the only true way of celebrating their new-found “Independence.”
Mr Owen Ndlovu who resides in the city centre said it was his hope that Cde Mugabe’s departure will open a new window of opportunities.
“I’m excited that President Mugabe has resigned. I’ve acquired honours and masters degrees but do not have a job. His departure is a victory for me. I don’t care who takes over from him but that he is gone is good enough for me,” said Mr Ndlovu.
One of the city’s entertainers, Dj Liz said the resignation of Cde Mugabe was an early Christmas gift for the country.
“This is an unplanned party but we know that people are going to be celebrating tonight. I’m going home and will be back in town to celebrate. This is an early Christmas gift that I’ve long longed for,” said Dj Liz.
Mr Simbarashe Mudarikwa from Pelandaba suburb said he was excited and believes that the next President has a mammoth task to put the country’s economy back on track.
“We are at a crossroads but more importantly the next leader has a duty to ensure that our country’s citizens don’t spend their nights queuing for money at the banks. Our road infrastructure is in bad shape. The new president whoever it will be should win the hearts of people by being progressive, developing the country and ensuring that he defends human rights,” said Mr Mudarikwa.— @nqotshili
economic prosperity.
Zanu-PF provinces, 8 out of ten of them on Friday held Coordinating Committees and resolved that Cde Mugabe be recalled as leader of the ruling party and President of the country.
They also called for Mrs Mugabe to be recalled as secretary for women’s affairs in the party and that members of the G40 faction be expelled from the party.
On Saturday, Zimbabweans marched on the streets of Harare, Bulawayo and other parts of the country in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Defence and Security Service and adding their voice on the calls for Cde Mugabe to step down.
On Sunday, the Central Committee met and recalled President Mugabe from the position of party First Secretary and replaced him with former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa whom the ruling party also reinstated as a Central Committee member.
Cde Mnangagwa was also endorsed to take over Cde Mugabe as leader of Zanu-PF and President of the country and also as the party’s Presidential candidate in the 2018 elections.
Mrs Mugabe was removed from her position as secretary for women’s affairs and expelled for life for charges ranging from fanning factionalism and promoting hate speech.
The party also resolved to expel members of the G40 faction namely Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Saviour Kasukuwere, Jonathan Moyo, Ignatius Chombo, Patrick Zhuwao, Letina Undenge, Grace Mugabe, Chipanga, Walter Mzembi, Paul Chimedza, Makhosini Hlongwane, Anastancia Ndlovu, Mandi Chimene, Samuel Undenge, Sarah Mahoka, Mpehlabayo Malinga, Xavier Kazizi, Tongai Kasukuwere and Innocent Hamandishe, Eunice Sandi Moyo and Shadreck Mashayamombe.
The meeting also gave Cde Mugabe up to Monday afternoon to step down failure to which, Zanu-PF Chief Whip Cde Lovemore Matuke would initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
In a televised State of the Nation Address at State House on Sunday, President Mugabe conceded that there was a crisis in the country and concerns raised by the ZDF and citizens relating to the state of the economy were genuine. He said Zimbabwe would chart a new path aimed at restoring normalcy in the country.
“The address came after President Mugabe held a meeting with the commanders that focused on several issues both at Government and party levels.
On Monday, Gen Chiwenga, at a press conference in Harare said after President Mugabe’s national address, he had made further consultations with the Command Element to agree on a roadmap on the prevailing situation in the country.
What is critical is that in the entire process, and as Gen Chiwenga revealed, the meetings held between the Command Element and Cde Mugabe were conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect and several guarantees were made.
He said the President would engage in talks with Cde Mnangagwa as part of efforts to bring sanity to the Government and Zanu-PF since the launch of Operation Restore Legacy.
Yesterday morning Cde Mnangagwa released a statement saying he would not be engaging President Mugabe but instead urged him to stick to his promise that he repeatedly made over the years that he will leave office when the people no longer want him.
Cde Mnangagwa said Cde Mugabe should listen to the people’s calls for him to step down to avoid embarrassment adding that the prevailing situation was not a matter between the two of them, but that between the now former head of State and Zimbabweans.
In the afternoon the impeachment motion was introduced during a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament but the debate on the motion was terminated after the Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Retired Major General Happyton Bonyongwe handed a letter to Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda notifying him of Cde Mugabe’s resignation as President of the country.
As Adv Mudenda read the resignation letter, wild celebrations erupted from the Harare International Conference Centre, the venue of the joint sitting. Like a wild fire, the jubilation spread to the streets of Harare.
As news of Cde Mugabe’s resignation filtered through, similar celebrations rocked almost all the parts of Zimbabwe.
However, whatever his weaknesses towards the end of his reign, Cde Mugabe remains on the right side of history, one of Africa’s liberation icons and the story of the Zimbabwe liberation can never be told without the mention of Robert Gabriel Mugabe.