2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état

===Tuesday, 21 November===

In a sitting of the [[House of Assembly (Zimbabwe)|House of Assembly]], Sen. [[Monica Mutsvangwa]] of the ZANU–PF caucus made the motion to convene a joint session of Parliament with the full [[Senate of Zimbabwe|Senate]] for the impeachment of Mugabe, and MP James Maridadi of the MDC-T seconded the motion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.herald.co.zw/live-parliament-sit-to-impeach-president-mugabe/|title=BREAKING NEWS: President Mugabe resigns!... Announcement of a new leader tomorrow|date=21 November 2017|access-date=18 February 2022|work=[[The Herald (Zimbabwe)|The Herald]]}}</ref> The MPs then adjourned to the Harare International Conference Centre for the joint session because the Parliament building could not accommodate a joint sitting.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=euinzim |number=932981487997251584 |title=We are live at HICC, waiting for National Assembly & Senate to start their joint sitting for deliberations on impeachment of Pres. #Mugabe.}}</ref> The joint session was tasked with deciding on impeachment by a majority vote and selecting a nine-member committee to investigate the allegations against Mugabe:

{{blockquote|
# serious misconduct;
# failure to obey, uphold and defend the Constitution;
# willful violation of the Constitution;
# inability to perform the functions of the Office because of physical or mental incapacity.}}

If this committee recommended impeachment, the joint sitting had to approve the recommendation by a two-thirds majority (233 seats of the 347-seat total).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/Africa/Zimbabwe/live-zim-parliament-begins-session-to-remove-mugabe-20171121|title=AS IT HAPPENED: Britain offers help for Zimbabwe after Mugabe 'oppression'|date=21 November 2017|access-date=18 February 2022|work=[[News24 (website)|News24]]}}</ref> However, both major parties supported the motion and controlled all but four seats in the House of Assembly and all but two seats in the Senate between them. Mugabe's impeachment and removal thus appeared all but certain.

Prior to the session, a cabinet meeting called by Mugabe was snubbed by 17 out of 22 members, with the absentees opting to attend a mandatory meeting of the ZANU–PF parliamentary caucus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/robert-mugabe-impeachment-zimbabwe-parliament-begins-sessions-president-remove-latest-updates-a8067111.html|title=Zimbabwe just started impeaching Robert Mugabe|date=21 November 2017|website=The Independent|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121125033/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/robert-mugabe-impeachment-zimbabwe-parliament-begins-sessions-president-remove-latest-updates-a8067111.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Mnangagwa wrote a letter saying that he could not meet personally with Mugabe while his safety could not be guaranteed. The letter also urged Mugabe to resign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-11-21-in-full--emmerson-mnangagwas-plea-for-mugabe-to-resign/|title=Emmerson Mnangagwa's plea for Mugabe to resign|publisher=TimesLive|access-date=21 November 2017|date=21 November 2017|archive-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121084927/https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-11-21-in-full--emmerson-mnangagwas-plea-for-mugabe-to-resign/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/21/zimbabwes-ousted-vice-president-emmerson-mnangagwa-breaks-silence-to-call-for-mugabe-to-go|title=Zimbabwe's ousted vice-president calls for Mugabe to quit|last=Graham-Harrison|first=Emma|date=21 November 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=22 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122013007/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/21/zimbabwes-ousted-vice-president-emmerson-mnangagwa-breaks-silence-to-call-for-mugabe-to-go|url-status=live}}</ref>

The crisis harmed Zimbabwe's economy, with investors dumping Zimbabwean stocks, sending them falling 10% on Monday to an eight-week low of 387.38.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fin24.com/Markets/Equities/mugabes-woes-wipe-out-5bn-from-zimbabwes-skewed-stocks-20171121|title=Mugabe's woes wipe out $6bn from Zimbabwe's skewed stocks|website=Fin24.com|access-date=21 November 2017|date=21 November 2017|archive-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121105403/https://www.fin24.com/Markets/Equities/mugabes-woes-wipe-out-5bn-from-zimbabwes-skewed-stocks-20171121|url-status=live}}</ref>

At 18:00 local time Mugabe resigned.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42071488|title=Zimbabwe's President Mugabe 'resigns'|date=21 November 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=21 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623213751/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42071488|url-status=live}}</ref> His resignation, in the form of an official statement, was announced by [[List of Speakers of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe|Speaker of Parliament]] Jacob Mudenda to the joint session. Many of the legislators in every party cheered happily right after Mudenda read Mugabe's resignation letter.<ref name=":15">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/nov/21/robert-mugabe-resignation-ends-standoff-in-zimbabw/|title=Robert Mugabe resignation ends standoff in Zimbabwe|last=Chikowore|first=Frank|date=21 November 2017|work=The Washington Times|access-date=22 November 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=22 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122081143/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/nov/21/robert-mugabe-resignation-ends-standoff-in-zimbabw/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/world/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-mnangagwa.html|title=Robert Mugabe Resigns as Zimbabwe's President, Ending 37-Year Rule|last1=Onishi|first1=Norimitsu|date=21 November 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 November 2017|last2=Moyo|first2=Jeffrey|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121214400/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/world/africa/zimbabwe-mugabe-mnangagwa.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In accordance with the [[Constitution of Zimbabwe|Zimbabwean constitution]], the Vice-President, [[Phelekezela Mphoko]], became acting president, pending nomination of a new candidate by the ruling party. However, as he was out of the country at the time, it is disputed whether or not he served in that acting position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kubatana.net/2017/11/23/status-president-ministers-swearing-constitution-watch-112017/|title=The Status of the President and Ministers before the Swearing-in – Constitution Watch 11/2017|website=Kubatana.net|date=23 November 2017}}</ref> The ZANU–PF chief whip duly nominated Mnangagwa, telling news organisations that he would take over as president within 48 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/news24/emmerson-mnangagwa-to-head-zimbabwe-zanu-pf-chief-whip-20171121|title=Emmerson Mnangagwa to head Zimbabwe – Zanu-PF chief whip|date=21 November 2017|access-date=18 February 2022|work=[[News24 (website)|News24]]}}</ref>