Robert Mugabe resigned as Zimbabwe's president on Tuesday, swept from power as his 37-year reign of autocratic control and brutality crumbled within days of a military takeover.
The move looks set to bring an end to Zimbabwe's worst political crisis since the country won independence from Britain in 1980.
The bombshell announcement was made by the Speaker at a special joint session of parliament which had convened to impeach the 93-year-old who has dominated every aspect of Zimbabwean public life for decades.
On the streets, the news sparked an explosion of wild celebration.
File image of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe from August 2017 Source: AAP
Car horns honked and people erupted into ecstatic cheers and frenzied dancing.
"I, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, in terms of section 96 of the constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation... with immediate effect," said the letter which was read out by parliamentary speaker Jacob Mudenda.
"My decision to resign is voluntary on my part. It arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire to ensure a smooth, peaceful and non-violent transfer of power that underpins national security, peace and stability."
In a highly symbolic scene, a man in a white shirt took down a portrait of Mr Mugabe from the wall of a room inside the building where parliament sat for its extraordinary session. Another bystander replaced it with an image of Mnangagwa.
People celebrate outside parliament after hearing the news that President Robert Mugabe resigned in Harare, Zimbabwe, 21 November 2017. Source: AAP
Outside, a man held up a smiling new-born wearing white pyjamas, prompting rapturous cheering from the crowd.
It capped an unprecedented week in which the military seized control and tens of thousands of ordinary Zimbabweans took to the streets in an extraordinary show of defiance to demand that Mr Mugabe leave.
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'37 years under dictatorship'
"I am so happy that Mugabe is gone, 37 years under dictatorship is not a joke. I am hoping for a new Zimbabwe ruled by the people," Tinashe Chakanetsa, 18, told AFP.
Men were breakdancing, women were singing and children were in tears as the news began to sink in, all brandishing national flags and praising General Constantino Chiwenga who led the army takeover.
"It's shocking, that guy is powerful, very powerful," Barber Wright Chirombe, who was also taking part in the euphoric celebrations, said.
Mr Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe almost unopposed since independence -- but efforts to position his wife Grace as his successor triggered fury in the military that had underpinned his regime.
Zimbabweans celebrate outside the parliament building immediately after hearing the news that President Robert Mugabe had resigned. Source: AAP
His grip on power was shattered last week when armoured military vehicles took to the streets, blockaded parliament and soldiers placed the president under house arrest in an operation that had all the hallmarks of a coup.
But the generals stressed they were simply "arresting" criminals around Mr Mugabe - a reference to Grace's supporters - and they even allowed the one-time liberation hero to deliver a televised speech and appear at a public function.
As the crisis grew, the ruling ZANU-PF party, an instrument of Mr Mugabe's ruthless decades-long rule, removed him as party leader and began parliamentary proceedings to have him impeached.
"The man had run out of options. The writing was on the wall... He was in a state of denial," Innocent Gonese, chief whip of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party, said.
"Mugabe might have been hoping that the impeachment process would not succeed, that it might stumble in getting the numbers together. But I think when he saw the turnout (of lawmakers) he probably realised he'd better jump before he was pushed," said Derek Matyszak, an analyst at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies
Mnangagwa in the wings
His likely successor is former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose dismissal on November 6 triggered the crisis.
A former close ally of Mr Mugabe, Mnangagwa had been Grace Mugabe's chief rival to succeed him. Grace has not been seen since the start of the crisis.
However, under Zimbabwe's constitution, it is second Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko who would ordinarily take over as head of state.
"I think we're going to see Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in very quickly... As far as I understand Mphoko is not in the country. Then the cabinet should meet if there's no president or vice president and appoint one," said Matyszak, the analyst.
Gonese, the opposition politician, agreed suggesting that the ruling party could appoint a successor in "less than two hours".
British Prime Minister Theresa May said the resignation gave Zimbabwe "an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule".
The United States embassy in Harare described it as a historic moment for Zimbabwe.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the change "overdue" and echoed Ms May's call for Zimbabwe to set a new path.
"With the resignation of Robert Mugabe, today marks a historic moment for Zimbabwe. We congratulate all Zimbabweans who raised their voices and stated peacefully and clearly that the time for change was overdue," he said in a statement.
"The United States strongly supports a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe. As events unfold, we continue to call on all parties to exercise restraint and respect constitutional and civilian order."
On Saturday, in scenes of public euphoria not seen since independence, huge crowds marched and sang their way through Harare and other cities in peaceful celebrations to mark his fading power.
Such open dissent would have been routinely crushed by security forces before the past week's shock events.
Most Zimbabweans have only known life under Mr Mugabe's rule, which was defined by violent suppression, economic collapse and international isolation.
Resignation letter
President Robert Mugabe's resignation letter was read out by Zimbabwe parliamentary Speaker Jacob Mudenda to lawmakers gathered at a conference centre in Harare to discuss an impeachment motion on Tuesday.
It read:
"Notice of resignation as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
"In terms of the provisions of section 96 (1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe, amendment number 20, 2013.
"Following my verbal communication with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda at 13:53 hours, 21st November, 2017 intimating my intention to resign as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 (1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe with immediate effect.
"My decision to resign is voluntary on my part and arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire to ensure a smooth, peaceful and non-violent transfer of power that underpins national security, peace and stability.
"Kindly give public notice of my resignation as soon as possible as required by section 96 (1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe.
"Yours faithfully, Robert Gabriel Mugabe President of the Republic of Zimbabwe."
