Robert Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
“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.
Former Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, had warned embattled
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to leave power or be humiliated.
This is contained in a statement he signed on Tuesday.
Exile Mnangagwa, who was fired by Mugabe from cabinet and Zanu-PF two
weeks ago, confirmed that he had received communication from the
President inviting him for talks.
“I can confirm that President Robert Gabriel Mugabe made contact with
me and invited me to return home for a discussion on the current
political events in the nation.
“I told the President that I would not return home now until I am
satisfied of my personal security, because of the manner and treatment
given to me upon being fired,” said Mnangagwa.
In the statement, the former Vice President, said he had warned
Mugabe against defying the will of the people as indicated by the
93-year-old veteran nationalist’s televised speech to citizens on
Sunday.
“In my conversation with the president I told him that there are two
options, that is (a) to cooperate in the current negotiations with
comrades from the defence forces for a peaceful resolution of this
crisis, which would result in the preservation of his legacy. (b) that
if he continues to dig in, in defiance of the will of the people, he
might suffer humiliation because definitely the will of the people will
prevail against one person,” Mnangagwa said.
The former Vice President said Mugabe had humiliated him on the day he was fired from government.
“He (Mugabe) requested me to come to State House, and l replied that l
was out of the country, and that he had already removed my status as
the VP of the country, as such I had no status, however, l can only come
at the invitation of my colleagues in the party and of the defence
forces, when they feel that my security is guaranteed”.
“… events that followed my dismissal on Monday 6th November 2017 at
4.00pm, my security details assigned to me and at my residency were
immediately withdrawn. This was contrary to all the protocols that have
exited in Zimbabwe to former State Vice Presidents of the Republic of
Zimbabwe.
“Security personnel, who are friendly to me, warned me that plans
were underfoot to eliminate me once arrested and taken to a police
station. It was in my security interest to leave the country
immediately.”
Mnangagwa said the move by Zanu-PF to impeach Mugabe after he failed
to comply with a central committee decision to voluntarily resign could
not be stopped by talks between the two.
“Parliament is the ultimate expression of the will of the people
outside an election and, in my view, is expressing national sentiment by
implementing the impeachment proceedings therefore talks between myself
and the President cannot supersede the expression and fundamental
rights of fellow Zimbabweans.
“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
by the people of Zimbabwe to resign so that the country can move
forward and preserve his legacy,” the former VP said.
Mnangagwa reminded Mugabe that the former guerrilla leader had promised to step down if the people wanted him to.
“His Excellency, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe has always said that if
the people don’t want him he will leave office, now that they have
spoken he must now accept the will of the people and resign.”
He added that the President had admitted to “latent disregard to the
interest of the people and dereliction of duty, surely after making such
an admission common sense dictates that it should have been followed by
an apology and immediate resignation to save the legacy of our
struggle”.
Mnangagwa promised to return and join the struggle for Zimbabwe’s economic revival “once my security is guaranteed”.