Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has resigned. His resignation was announced Tuesday by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda during a joint sitting of the Senate and National Assembly that was debating his impeachment motion.

In the resignation letter by Mugabe which was read out by the speaker, he said that the decision to resign is voluntary and arose from his concern with the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and his desire to ensure a smooth, peaceful and non-violent transition of power that underpins national security, peace and stability.