Robert Mugabe

===Coup d'état and resignation: 2017===
{{Main|2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état}}
On 6 November 2017, Mugabe sacked his first vice-president, [[Emmerson Mnangagwa]]. This fueled speculation that he intended to name Grace his successor. Grace was very unpopular with the ZANU–PF old guard. On 15 November 2017, the [[Zimbabwe National Army]] placed Mugabe under [[house arrest]] at his [[Blue Roof]] mansion as part of what it described as an action against "criminals" in Mugabe's circle.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/14/africa/zimbabwe-military-chief-treasonable-conduct/index.html|title=Zimbabwe in turmoil after apparent coup|author1=David McKenzie |author2=Brent Swails |author3=Angela Dewan|publisher=CNN|access-date=15 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114223043/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/14/africa/zimbabwe-military-chief-treasonable-conduct/index.html|archive-date=14 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe confined to home as army takes control |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 November 2017 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/nov/15/zimbabwe-army-control-harare-coup-robert-mugabe-live |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115032508/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/nov/15/zimbabwe-army-control-harare-coup-robert-mugabe-live |archive-date=15 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Stunned Zimbabweans face uncertain future without Mugabe |date=16 November 2017 |newspaper=SBS News |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/16/stunned-zimbabweans-face-uncertain-future-without-mugabe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119134528/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/16/stunned-zimbabweans-face-uncertain-future-without-mugabe |archive-date=19 November 2017 }}</ref>

On 19 November, he was sacked as leader of ZANU–PF, and Mnangagwa was appointed in his place.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42043370|title=Ruling party sacks Mugabe as leader|date=19 November 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119115929/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42043370|archive-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> The party also gave Mugabe an ultimatum: resign by noon the following day, or it would introduce an [[impeachment]] resolution against him. In a nationally televised speech that night, Mugabe refused to say that he would resign.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/19/world/africa/zimbabwe-robert-mugabe.html | title=Robert Mugabe, in Speech to Zimbabwe, Refuses to Say if He Will Resign | work=The New York Times|first=Jeffrey|last=Moyo | date=19 November 2017 | access-date=20 November 2017 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://archive.today/20171119222140/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/19/world/africa/zimbabwe-robert-mugabe.html | archive-date=19 November 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In response, ZANU–PF deputies introduced an impeachment resolution on 21 November 2017, which was seconded by the MDC–T.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/21/robert-mugabe-impeachment-proceedings-begin-in-zimbabwe-emmerson-mnangagwa|title=Impeachment proceedings against Mugabe begin in Zimbabwe|first1=Emma|last1=Graham-Harrison|first2=Jason|last2=Burke|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=21 November 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123011254/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/21/robert-mugabe-impeachment-proceedings-begin-in-zimbabwe-emmerson-mnangagwa|archive-date=23 November 2017}}</ref> The constitution stipulated that removing a president from office required a two-thirds majority of both the House of Assembly and Senate in a joint sitting. However, with both major parties supporting the motion and controlling all but six seats in both houses between them (all but four in the lower house and all but two in the upper house), Mugabe's impeachment and removal appeared all but certain.

As per the constitution, both chambers met in joint session to debate the resolution. Hours after the debate began, the Speaker of the House of Assembly read a letter from Mugabe announcing that he had resigned, effective immediately.<ref name="auto">{{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|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121155642/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42071488|archive-date=21 November 2017}}</ref> Mugabe and his wife had negotiated a deal before his resignation, under which he and his kin were exempted from prosecution, his business interests would remain untouched, and he would receive a payment of at least $10&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe to get $10m payoff and immunity for his family|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=26 November 2017 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/25/robert-mugabe-payoff-family-immunity-zimbabwe-zanu-pf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128003810/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/25/robert-mugabe-payoff-family-immunity-zimbabwe-zanu-pf |archive-date=28 November 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Mugabe, Mphoko due for big payout |date=11 December 2017 |newspaper=Daily News |url=https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2017/12/11/mugabe-mphoko-due-for-big-payout |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213181921/https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2017/12/11/mugabe-mphoko-due-for-big-payout |archive-date=13 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2018, the Zimbabwe Supreme Court ruled that Mugabe had resigned voluntarily, despite some of the ex-president's subsequent comments.<ref name="Voluntary">{{Cite news|date=17 July 2018 |title=Zimbabwe Court Says Mugabe Stepped Down Freely, Voluntarily |publisher=Voice of America |url=https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/zimbabwe-mugabe-resigned-voluntarily-freely/4486081.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718111705/https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/zimbabwe-mugabe-resigned-voluntarily-freely/4486081.html |archive-date=18 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>