Zimbabwe’s parliament starts impeachment process against Mugabe

Zimbabwe’s parliament on Tuesday began an impeachment process against long time President , Robert Mugabe, a move that will his domination of a country he has ruled since independence nearly four decades ago to an ignominious end.

Mugabe has clung on in the face of a collapse of his authority following a military take over last week and a Monday deadline to quit.

Since the army seized power a week ago, there have been series of mass protests against him and calls to resign including on Tuesday from the ruling party’s favourite to succeed him Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Parliament Speaker Jacob Mudenda said he received a motion to impeach and the parliament would adjourn to a hotel to start the proceedings on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Zimbabwean law, a joint sitting can take place anywhere.

Protesters call for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to resign, across the road from parliament in

Mugabe led Zimbabwe’s liberation war and is hailed as one of Africa’s founding fathers and a staunch supporter of the drive to free neighbouring South Africa from apartheid in 1994.

But many people in Africa and beyond also say he has damaged Zimbabwe’s economy, democracy and judiciary by staying in power for too long and has used violence to crush perceived political opponents.