African cartoonists join Mugabe exit party with colour and fun

After 37 years as president Robert Gabriel Mugabe finally agreed to resign his post on the back of internal and external pressure.

The impasse leading to his resignation on Tuesday November 21, 2017; started with the firing of his vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa and the subsequent takeover of political power by the army.

The military insisted their actions were not a coup and that it was meant at removing criminal elements surrounding the 93-year-old president. Mugabe had been under house arrest for a week before his eventual resignation.

Political watchers have been giving their take on the events in the southern African nation as global leaders continue to react to Mugabe’s resignation. A lot of ink has gone into the entire episode as journalists continue to run Zimbabwe – related material even after Mugabe.

One group of artistes who have also refused to be left out are cartoonists, who bring a somewhat funny perspectives to the events. Below are a series of cartoons depicting the end of Mugabe – at the time of resignation, the world’s oldest political leader.

[CARTOON] Mugabe Falls https://t.co/FXKlgO1Cln pic.twitter.com/amk988nqSt

— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) November 22, 2017

[CARTOON] MUGabe SHOT https://t.co/D6tAXCP1y4 pic.twitter.com/m1dG40639X

— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) November 21, 2017

Cartoon for November 21. #Mugabe #Mugaberesigns #Zimbabwe #Mnangagwa pic.twitter.com/TOX4vArisR

— Michael de Adder (@deAdder) November 22, 2017

Cartoon from 2016 ?#Mugabe #Zimbabwecoup #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/G4tfN2Cv0a

— Rico Schacherl (@ricoschacherl) November 15, 2017

pic.twitter.com/S5AJ3DNhg2

— Siwela (@SiwelaCartoons) November 21, 2017

Perspiration thing#abonsamcartoons #mugabe #nanagenariantins #zimcoup #zimbabwe #mansnothot #jacket #bigshaq #zanupf #africa #politics #socialcommentaryart #socialcommentary #michaeldapaah pic.twitter.com/rAfE3Z7DsN

— #abonsamcartoons (@brightackwerh) November 20, 2017

#MugabeResigns Many..many..many attempts later… cartoon for TheStarKenya #zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/PC8Vruzrxz

— VICTOR NDULA (ndula_victor) November 21, 2017

RT dr_meddy: The leader who won't leave. Cartoon by Dr. Meddy of Tanzania. #Zimbabwe RFI_Sw pic.twitter.com/QSGglD1aUE #Mugabe

— Global Cartoons (@globalcartoons) November 20, 2017

Zimbabwe: Free at last?#Zimbabwecoup #Zimbabwe #Mugabe #cartoon pic.twitter.com/Y7ocnOqtEl

— Paulie Cartoons (@PaulieCartoons) November 21, 2017

Mugabe’s final ride. Cartoon by Joep Bertrams of The Netherlands. #zimbabwe #zimbabwecoup #GraceMugabe joepbertrams pic.twitter.com/bLOZh8w7Ni

— Global Cartoons (globalcartoons) November 15, 2017

#Mugabe hanging on by a thread (cord)

Cartoon by Bethuel Mangena for #IOL#MugabeMustGo #MugabeImpeachment #MugabeMustFall #Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/gYTCJLMm7G

— Povo Zim (@povozim) November 21, 2017

Today’s cartoon by Bethuel Mangena. #Mugaberesigns #Mugabe #ZanuPF #Zimbabwe #Zimbabweans TheStar_news Mangenatoons pic.twitter.com/lCDoq64jTb

— IOL News (@IOL) November 22, 2017

Photo credit: @brandanrey for South Africa’s Business Day_