Robert Mugabe's resignation sparks wild celebrations, his letter leaves no clue about successor

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe resigned on Tuesday in a letter submitted to parliament, Speaker Jacob Mudenda said.

Wild jubilation broke out among MPs when Mudenda told the House.

In a letter to the speaker he wrote: "My decision to resign is voluntary on my part. Kindly give public notice of my decision as soon as possible."

The origin of Mugabe's sudden downfall lies in rivalry between members of Zimbabwe's ruling elite over who will succeed him, rather than popular protests against his rule.

 The resignation letter written by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe that was read out by the speaker of the country's parliament made no mention of who he was leaving in charge of the country.
The speaker added that he was working on legal issues to make sure a new leader was in place by the end of Wednesday. 

The army seized power after Mugabe sacked ZANU-PF's favourite to succeed him, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to smooth a path to the presidency for his wife Grace, 52, known to her critics as "Gucci Grace" for her reputed fondness for luxury shopping.

Mnangagwa, a former security chief known as The Crocodile, is expected to take over as president.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday Robert Mugabe's resignation gave Zimbabwe the chance to forge a new path, free from oppression.

"The resignation of Robert Mugabe provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule," May said. 

"In recent days, we have seen the desire of the Zimbabwean people for free and fair elections and the opportunity to rebuild the country’s economy under a legitimate government."
May added in a statement that Britain, as "Zimbabwe’s oldest friend", would do all it could to support the country. 

Thousands of Zimbabweans poured onto the streets of Harare after President Robert Mugabe resigned on Tuesday, and cars were hooting in the streets.

Zimbabwe's Platform for Concerned Citizens, a civil society group, called on Tuesday for a far-reaching national dialogue involving all political parties to help plot a new course for the country after the resignation of Robert Mugabe.
"A National Transitional Authority must be the final outcome of a national dialogue," the PCC said in a statement. "We have informed both the government and the military of our view." 

Some people were holding posters of Zimbabwean army chief Constantino Chiwenga and former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking this month triggered the military takeover that forced Mugabe to resign.

In the last week, the 93-year old has clung on in the face of an army takeover that shattered his authority and expulsion from his own ruling ZANU-PF party, which also told him to leave power.
Thousands of people have joined mass protests against him and calls to resign have come from many sides, including on Tuesday from the ruling party's favourite to succeed him, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda said he received a motion to impeach and lawmakers would adjourn to a hotel to start the proceedings later on Tuesday. Thousands or people demonstrated outside parliament urging his resignation.
Since the crisis began, Mugabe has been mainly confined to his lavish "Blue Roof" residence in the capital.

Mugabe led Zimbabwe's liberation war and is hailed as one of post-colonial Africa's founding fathers and a staunch supporter of the drive to free neighbouring South Africa from apartheid in 1994.

But many say he has damaged Zimbabwe's economy, democracy and judiciary by staying in power for too long and has used violence to crush perceived political opponents. The country faces a foreign exchange payments crisis and roaring inflation.

South African President Jacob Zuma and his Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenco, will travel on Wednesday to Zimbabwe in a fresh sign of diplomatic pressure, South Africa's state broadcaster said.
Mugabe held his weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday but only five ministers and the attorney general turned up. 17 others opted to attend a meeting to plan the impeachment.

"The people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call ... to resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy," Mnangagwa said in a statement.

SUCCESSION PLOT

The origin of Mugabe's sudden downfall lies in rivalry between members of Zimbabwe's ruling elite over who will succeed him, rather than popular protests against his rule.

The army seized power because Mugabe sacked Mnangagwa as vice president this month to smooth a path to the presidency for his wife Grace, who is unpopular with many Zimbabweans because of her perceived lavish lifestyle.

Reuters reported in September that Mnangagwa was plotting to succeed Mugabe with army backing at the helm of a broad coalition.

The plot posited an interim unity government with international blessing to allow for Zimbabwe's re-engagement with the world. Its main aim was to stabilise its economy.
The former vice president was a key lieutenant to Mugabe for decades and stands accused of participating in repression against Zimbabweans who challenged the leader.
 

Mnangagwa said he has fled Zimbabwe because of a threat to his life after being purged from the ruling party. He said he had been in contact with Mugabe and invited to return but would not do so until his security could be guaranteed.
 

Mnangagwa said his desire was to join all Zimbabweans in a "new era" that would rebuild the economy for the benefit of all.

Zimbabwe's top general Constantino Chiwenga said on Monday the takeover, dubbed "Operation Restore Legacy", was progressing well. He said Mugabe and Mnangagwa had been in contact since Mugabe's speech on Sunday in which he defied calls to step down.
In the draft impeachment motion, ZANU-PF said Mugabe is a "source of instability", flouting the rule of law and presiding over an "unprecedented economic tailspin" in the last 15 years.
It also said Mugabe had abused his constitutional mandate to favour his wife Grace. On Saturday, hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Harare to celebrate the ruler's impending fall.