Robert Mugabe has submitted his resignation as head of state of Zimbabwe after 37 years in power, announced today the president of the lower house of the country, Jacob Mudenda, while the Parliament debated a motion to remove him from power. Mugabe stated in his letter of resignation, which has immediate effects, that he leaves "of his own free will."

Had they not resigned, the cameras were preparing to approve a motion of censure sponsored by Mugabe's own party, the African National Union of Zimbabwe-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), which has a majority in both halls, and which was supported by the main opposition formation, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Harare to celebrate the imminent fall of Mugabe, accused by his critics of holding power through terror, manipulating elections and collapsing a once vibrant economy. Once the resignation was confirmed, in the streets the news was received with cheers and the cars honked their horns. Internationally, the first official reaction came from the United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Theresa May said that with Mugabe's resignation, "a future free of oppression is possible for Zimbabwe."

The news comes unexpectedly, because Mugabe seemed reluctant to leave the position he held since 1987, although he ruled as prime minister since 1980, although the military had taken control of the country on Tuesday night to Wednesday of the last week.

The trigger for the military uprising was the dismissal of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on June 6, forced by the faction of the governing party to the ambitions of the first lady, Grace Mugabe, to become the successor of her husband in power.

Since then, the ZANU-PF, co-founded by Mugabe, dismissed the 93-year-old veteran leader as number one in the formation and replaced him with Mnangagwa, in addition to expelling Grace Mugabe and her allies. Despite the popular rejection and his own party, Mugabe did not resign even when ZANU-PF gave him an ultimatum that expired yesterday at 12.00 local time (10.00 GMT).

Now, the plan of succession must contemplate a unity government that would have the blessing of a good part of the international community and allow the re-linking of Zimbabwe with the outside world. Its main objective would be the stabilization of its economy.