As it happened: Mugabe resigns

Summary

Embattled President Mugabe resigns
Wild celebrations break out in the capital
Military thanked for helping force Mugabe out
US and UK welcome end of his 37-year rule
Resignation came as parliament began impeachment proceedings
New president expected to take office on Wednesday

Live Reporting

David Molloy, Emma Owen, Farouk Chothia and Dickens Olewe

Mugabe in quotespublished at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Image source, Re
Image caption,
Robert Mugabe ruled the ex-British colony since independence in 1980
Until the military takeover of last Wednesday, many people had expected President Robert Mugabe to remain in office until he died.
In 2008, he said:
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Only God who appointed me will remove me - not the MDC [opposition], not the British."
And in 2014, he said:
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Some are saying 'Mr Mugabe is old, so he should step down'... No! When my time comes, I will tell you."
'One big party'published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
It's 19:30 local time in Zimbabwe and it looks like the crowds are just starting a long night of celebration.
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'A better Zimbabwe for my daughter'published at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
A journalist has shared a picture of a woman cheering following President Robert Mugabe's resignation.
She expects a brighter future for her daughter:
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A Mugabe movie called Robertpublished at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Many Zimbabweans have taken to social media to show how they are celebrating the end of Robert Mugabe's presidency.
They are waving down traffic with their flags and dancing:
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Others have started imagining a Mugabe movie called ROBERT, starring American actor Don Cheadle:
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UK welcomes Mugabe's resignationpublished at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
UK Prime Minister Theresa May says the resignation of President Robert Mugabe gives Zimbabwe an "an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule".
In a statement, she added:
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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.
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As Zimbabwe's oldest friend we will do all we can to support this, working with our international and regional partners to help the country achieve the brighter future it so deserves."
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Robert Mugabe took power when Margaret Thatcher was UK prime minister
'Happy, happy, happy'published at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Ecstatic Zimbabweans are not holding back to express their joy following the news that President Robert Mugabe, 93, has resigned.
One of them has told a journalist covering the event that he is "happy,happy,happy":
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Mugabe escapes impeachmentpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Zimbabwe's Ptesident Robert Mugabe resigned in disgrace, after his party and the army turned against him.
He sent a letter to parliament, preempting moves to impeach him.
Children on army tanks join celebrationspublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
A journalist in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, has shared a picture of children on top of an army tank, holding the Zimbabwean flag.
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'Historic moment' - US embassypublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
The US embassy in Zimbabwe has called President Robert Mugabe's resignation "historic", saying it is an opportunity for the nation to "set itself on a new path" that will lead to free and fair elections.
The US was a fierce critic of Mugabe, accusing him of being repressive and ruining the economy through a controversial land reform programme.
Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Mr Mugabe, 93, was the world's oldest ruler
'Army tanks leaving capital'published at 16:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Army tanks are moving out of the city centre in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, a website which keeps a close on political developments in the southern African state has tweeted:
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The military took power in Zimbabwe last Wednesday, setting off the extraordinary chain of events which led to President Robert Mugabe's resignation.
Read: Mugabe: Hero or villain?
'A city singing with noise and joy'published at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
A BBC correspondent tweets from Zimbabwe's capital Harare:
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'Tyrant out, tyranny not yet'published at 16:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Prominent Zimbabwean opposition politician David Coltart is celebrating the end of President Robert Mugabe's rule, but is worried about what comes next:
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'From liberator to dictator'published at 16:36 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance has welcomed President Robert Mugabe's resignation after 37 years in power, saying a "liberator" had turned into a "dictator.
Its statement read:
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This is a victory for the people of Zimbabwe who have suffered greatly under the latter years of Mugabe's reign. The story of Robert Mugabe is not a unique one, and is all too familiar on our continent.
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A once liberator of his people, Mugabe brought division, instability, and economic ruin to Zimbabwe as he made the unfortunate transition from liberator to dictator."
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Robert Mugabe fought for Zimbabwe's independence from minority rule
New president 'by tomorrow'published at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Breaking
The speaker of Zimbabwe's parliament says a new leader will be in office by the end of Wednesday, Reuters news agency reports.
Jacob Mudenda said he was dealing with legal issues to ensure that the vacuum left by President Robert Mugabe's resignation was filled, Reuters added.
When the news brokepublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
The BBC's Fergal Keane, who was in the hotel where Zimbabwean lawmakers had gathered to discuss the impeachment of President Robert Mugabe, has tweeted the reaction of one woman after the story of his resignation broke:
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'We only knew Mugabe as president'published at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Young Zimbabweans grew up knowing only Robert Gabriel Mugabe as their president. Now, they are looking forward to a new leader, following the stunning announcement that the nonagenarian has finally relinquished power:
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Mugabe: From war hero to resignationpublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Here's a BBC video charting the life of the man who dominated Zimbabwean politics for at least four decades:
Media caption,
Robert Mugabe: From war hero to resignation as president
Song, dance and honkspublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
A journalist has shared a video from downtown Harare, Zimbawe's capital, where the atmosphere is electric.
People are singing and dancing while passing cars are blaring their horns.
A military tank is nearby, and some are thanking the army for the pivotal role it played in forcing their commander-in-chief, President Robert Mugabe, out of office.
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Jubilation among MPspublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
Here's another video of the extraordinary scenes in Zimbabwe's parliament after the speaker announced that President Robert Mugabe had sent a letter of resignation:
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Harare is 'incredible'published at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 21 November 2017
A Zimbabwean pro-democracy activist is livestreaming people's reaction in the capital, Harare, following the momentous announcement that President Robert Mugabe has stepped down:
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