World sees chance to reshape Zimbabwe’s future
The exit of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe after a military takeover widely hailed as 'historic'
Paris — Robert Mugabe’s bombshell decision to resign as Zimbabwe’s president after 37 years of autocratic rule has been hailed by the international community as a chance to reshape the country’s future. The exit of the oldest serving head of state, at 93, has brought to an end Zimbabwe’s worst political crisis since independence in 1980, in a development widely hailed as "historic". The UK, Zimbabwe’s former colonial ruler, greeted the news as a crucial turning point in Zimbabwe’s history. "The resignation of Robert Mugabe provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule," said British Prime Minister Theresa May. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: "I will not pretend to regret Mugabe’s downfall; but this can now be a turning point, a moment of hope for this beautiful country, full of potential." US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said it offered Zimbabwe "an extraordinary opportunity to set itself on a new path". He con...
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