UK foreign affairs minister Johnson Boris celebrates Mugabe's downfall

Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's resignation has excited the world with leaders expressing their views following the strongman's downfall.

The 93-year-old strongman had been holding on to power for 37 years and had declared he would run again for president in the next general election despite his age.

The military staged a bloodless coup against Mugabe shortly after he had fired vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa as succession politics raged.

Grace Marufu and Mugabe wave at guests on August 17, 1996, after their wedding ceremony at the Kutama Catholic mission. Photo: NBC News

It is widely believed that disgraced first lady Grace Mugabe was behind Mnangagwa's sacking as she hoped to succeed her husband and did not want competition.

Zimbabwe citizens poured on the streets and villages to celebrate the news of Mugabe's exit and they were not alone.

World leaders who had been calling on Mugabe to relinquish power expressed their views saying it was a new dawn for the South African country.

Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson. Photo: The Independent

Among the leaders who publicly endorsed the resignation was Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson.

Johnson said he could not pretend to regret Mugabe's downfall while explaining that it was a moment of hope for Zimbabweans.

"The UK will support them," he said in a twitter post seen by TUKO.co.ke.

ex-Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe and former Cuba leader Fidel Castro. Photo: NBC News

World leaders including Kenya's opposition chief Raila Odinga have hailed the exit of Mugabe, saying it was the end for Africa's strongmen who cling on to power.

Raila urged Zimbabweans to now move swiftly and rebuild the country that has been thrown in despondency for 37 years under Mugabe.