The former President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe has broken his silence over how he exited power last year after a military takeover which eventually led to the swearing in of Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The 94 year old Pan-Africanist is reported to have told the visiting African Union commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat that he resigned for the sake of “peace and development”.
Mahamat told journalists in Harare, according to NewsDay that “I met him (Mugabe), we exchanged views, and he also explained why he resigned. It was for peace and development of the country. And we appreciated that very much.”
Meanwhile local media has also reported that Mugabe revealed that Mugabe claimed in his conversation with the AU diplomat that he was forced out of power by the military which he considered a “coup”.
Mugabe celebrated his 94th birthday on Wednesday but without any lavish celebrations. His birthday which is on February 21 has been declared a public holiday in Zimbabwe.
Born on February 21, 1924, Mugabe trained as a teacher and taught in Ghana before returning home to join the guerrilla war against British rule and eventually becoming prime minister when the country attained its independence from Britain in 1980.
Mugabe became president in 1987 and ruled until he resigned.
Source: Africafeeds.com
