After 37 years of rule, Robert Mugabe resigned from his post as the President of Zimbabwe on Tuesday, November 21.

Mugabe came to power in 1980, when he assumed office as the nation's Prime Minister. Among his first orders of business was to rename the country, which at the time was still known by the British colonial name of Rhodesia. The removal of statues of Cecil Rhodes and other colonists and a great reclamation to give streets and towns African names would follow, making Mugabe an instant nationalist hero in the South African Republic.

While Zimbabwe would go through its economic struggles and also see forms of repression manifest under his nearly four-decade-long reign, Mugabe sustained a loyal base on account of his anti-imperialist efforts to first overhaul white minority rule and eventually redistribute territory from white colonialist landowners. But as one-time-allies grew jaded with Mugabe's rigid political direction and as newer generations of citizens have come along, a disconnect grew between Mugabe and the people of Zimbabwe. His re-elections in 2002, 2008, and 2013 were all hotly contested and he prevailed in spite of accusations of corruption and fraud.

When it was announced that the legendary strongman had officially stepped down, many took to the streets in celebration and members of the parliament rejoiced before taking his portrait down from the walls of governmental chambers. Meanwhile, the ruling Zanu-PF began preparations to install former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa in Mugabe's place.

At 93-years-old Mugabe was the world's oldest head of state.

Source: BBC