World leaders react to former Pres Robert Mugabe’s historic resignation

Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe cried and lamented “betrayal” by his lieutenants when he agreed to step down. However his sorrow, his resignation from power after 37 years is not shared by most people, especially not his peers. Botswana President Ian Khama told BBC that he has no sympathy for former Zimbabwean president Mugabe because the 93-year-old did not have any sympathy for his people.

As the most vocal response so far to this series of events the Botswana President, who once advised Mugabe to consider a graceful exit from power, published an open letter on social media. He noted in its contents among other things that the celebration that ensued following the former leader’s resignation showed that Zimbabweans desperately wanted him out of power.

“I don’t see the reason why i should wish him well because if i have any sympathy for him, i say to myself that didn’t he have any sympathy for his own people. But if he cared nothing about his own people, then why should i care for him? And i don’t wish him ill either. I just say let’s leave him alone, let him just try and enjoy the rest of his life,”

“I can’t think of a more undignified way of having to leave office and for him to sit there. I hope he was watching the television screens and seeing how people were rejoicing at his departure and you would say to yourself ‘is this the legacy I had planned to leave when they left office? That people wanted you out of office, people wanted you gone, that’s what or should have made him extremely depressed.”

Read: Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe’s resignation letter in full

He advised the new leader of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to embrace democracy and avoid the mistakes of his predecessor.

“I would say to him, ‘look at the reaction [of] the people of Zimbabwe to Mugabe stepping down. And people now have high expectations, they have tested democracy even if it was limited, by being able to do things they weren’t able to do in the part, being able to go onto the streets and protest, at being able to say their views, freedom of speech, the media being able to write and say what they want without any crackdown. And really, he should embrace democracy in all its forms,”

He added that Zimbabwe’s economy would soon pick up.

“Zimbabwe has got the potential of being an economic powerhouse. And even though it took Mugabe 37 years to bring it down to the economic chaos Zimbabwe is today, it won’t take that long to bring it back up again because there is so much potential, the people are so innovative and hard working. I’m sure investors will be tripping over themselves to come back into that country. And I think in a very short space of time, if he can demonstrate to investors and to the people of Zimbabwe the confidence that they have achieved stability in that country, I think in a very short space of time, there will be a turnaround,” said President Khama.

After they were sworn in as the two new Zimbabwean Vice Presidents, Emmerson Mnangagwa (R) and Phelekeza Mphoko (L) stand with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (C) outside State House, Harare, Zimbabwe, 12 December 2014. Photo: ANP/ EPA Aaron Ufumeli

Other reactions

Alpha Conde, president of Guinea and African Union (AU) chief, said to Aljazeera it is “a shame” Mugabe “has to leave through the back door”. He added, however, that he was “very pleased” with Mugabe’s decision to resign, noting that the AU had warned against a coup in Zimbabwe.

The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party, called the resignation “a victory for the people of Zimbabwe who have suffered greatly under the latter years of Mugabe’s reign”.

Hakainde Hichilema, opposition leader in Zambia, congratulated the people of Zimbabwe, saying the events there sent a message to African leaders. “This is power by the people for the people and to the people,” he said.

Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement that the news of Mugabe’s resignation was an opportunity to “forge a new path free of the oppression that characterized his rule”. “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.”

UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter that he does not regret Mugabe’s downfall, calling the resignation “a moment of hope for the people of Zimbabwe”.

I will not pretend to regret Mugabe’s downfall. Today is a moment of hope for the people of Zimbabwe. The UK will support them. pic.twitter.com/AHyW5yHM30

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 21, 2017

Golden handshake for a fallen leader?

Mugabe and his wife will allegedly receive a “golden handshake” worth many millions of dollars as part of a deal negotiated before his resignation according to the Guardian. The exact sums to be paid to the former president and his wife Grace are still unclear, though it is speculated to not be at least $10m.

Read: Cartoon: Former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s departure renews hope

The interviewed official said that Mugabe, who has been granted immunity from prosecution and a guarantee that no action will be taken against his family’s extensive business interests, would receive a “cash payment of $5m” immediately, with more paid in coming months.

Apparently the 93-year-old’s $150,000 salary will also be paid until his death. The 52-year-old first lady, reviled for her extravagance and greed, will then receive half that amount for the rest of her life.

Opposition politicians have criticised the agreement with the former president. “We are not privy to any deal reached with Mugabe, and if there is any deal on money or anything else it is unconstitutional,” said Douglas Mwonzora, secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party.

“In terms of the constitution Mugabe is a retired president and does not have immunity to criminal or civil wrongdoing committed while in office. In Zanu-PF, they can grant each other immunity, but the law does not authorize that.” he added.