- A Sky News reporter was mobbed by jubilant crowds in Harare, Zimbabwe
- David Bowden’s report was cut short as dozens celebrated Mugabe’s departure
- The reporter was grabbed and hugged by dozens of overjoyed Zimbabweans
A Sky News reporter was mobbed by jubilant crowds in Zimbabwe following President Robert Mugabe’s resignation.
Broadcasting from a busy square in the capital of Harare, David Bowden’s piece to camera was interrupted by citizens overjoyed at the long-time ruler’s departure.
Trying desperately to keep his composure amid scenes of chaos, the reporter was grabbed and hugged by dozens of Zimbabweans, delighted at this afternoon’s enormous events.
Sky News reporter David Bowden was mobbed by jubilant crowds in Zimbabwe following President Robert Mugabe’s resignation. Broadcasting from a busy square in the capital of Harare, Bowden’s piece to camera was interrupted by citizens overjoyed at the his departure
Shouting into the camera, Bowden said: ‘I don’t know whether you can hear my as I can barely hear myself think.
‘This is what it means to the people of Harare – they can’t believe that the man who has been so reviled for so long has resigned and is no longer here.
‘These people have been waiting literally all their lives to get rid of Robert Mugabe and now everyone is everyone’s friend – it’s absolutely ridiculous.’
The writing had been on the wall for the dictator who has ruled over Zimbabwe for 37 years after a shock coup was orchestrated by the vice president he sacked last week.
A week of chaos and uncertainty followed last Tuesday’s news that Robert Mugabe was under house arrest in his sprawling mansion leaving the country’s governance in turmoil.
His former vice president, Emmerson ‘The Crocodile’ Mnangagwa, had been the figurehead of the takeover which seemed to be heading to a neat conclusion with a live TV resignation by Mugabe yesterday.
Trying desperately to keep his composure amid scenes of chaos, the reporter was grabbed and hugged by dozens of Zimbabweans, delighted at this afternoon’s enormous events
Shouting into the camera, Bowden said: ‘I don’t know whether you can hear my as I can barely hear myself think. ‘This is what it means to the people of Harare – they can’t believe that the man who has been so reviled for so long has resigned and is no longer here’
Unexpectedly, the stubborn leader dug his claws in and instead delivered a rambling 20-minute speech to say he was staying on as the country’s president.
Behind the scenes, the Parliament of Zimbabwe prepared impeachment charges against Mugabe ready to forcibly oust him as leader.
But Mugabe shocked the world for the second time in two days by standing down in a letter read out by the speaker of the parliament which sparked jubilation in the streets of Harare.