Zimbabweans celebrate first night without Mugabe

The streets of Zimbabwe capital, Harare erupted in jubilation on Tuesday night as thousands of citizens celebrated the news of President Robert Mugabe’s resignation.

The announcement was made by Parliament’s speaker Jacob Mudenda, which was followed by loud cheers in Parliament. Zimbabweans held up flags as they cried and sang outside the streets.

Africanews correspondent in the Harare, Pindai Dube on Wednesday said people celebrated peaceful adding that there were no clashes in the streets, but just celebration.

“Thousands of people thronged the streets. People did not sleep. People were on top of cars, buses and other vehicles. There were hugging soldiers and giving them food thanking them for kicking out Mugabe. Some people were drinking and dancing in the middle of Harare,” he said.

Residents say they are happy now because there is hope for a better future. Many expressed that they did not care who became the next president as long as the man who ruled the country for almost four decades stepped down.

“What happens now is that Emerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in this week. And there is talk of a unity government. We understand, Mnangagwa will appoint a Government of National Unity (GNU) that includes the opposition parties,” Dube added.

According to him, Elections are expected to take place next year but there is a possibility that they maybe postponed if a unity government is installed to give Zimbabwe a time to heal.

Zimbabweans living in South Africa also took to the streets in parts of central Johannesburg in celebration.

Those coming after Robert Mugabe are not good men CNN https://t.co/GhQGVKxPyE

— JJD (JeromeJDufourg) November 22, 2017

Streets in the Hillbrow, an area full of Zimbabwean nationals jubilated as they spread the news to others. According to the Department of International Relations, President Jacob Zuma who planned a visit to Zimbabwe on Wednesday will go ahead as scheduled.