ZIMBABWE’S fired vice president was set to return to be sworn in as the new leader, after Robert Mugabe announced his stunning resignation during impeachment proceedings against him.

The state-run broadcaster said Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived at Manyame Air Base in the capital, Harare, at 6pm last night.

The Parliament speaker said he would be sworn in today after the ruling party notified him of its nomination of Mnangagwa to replace Mugabe until the end of the term next year.

Several hundred people gathered singing and cheering outside the base in anticipation of Mnangagwa’s arrival.

A man in the crowd, Godwin Nyarugwa, who has several university degrees but no job, said Zimbabwe has been through “crisis after crisis” and Mnangagwa seems best suited to lead the country forward.

“We have to try him and see,” he said. “If he doesn’t come up with something, we need to change him as well.”

Zimbabweans cheered and danced in the streets of Harare late into the night after the resignation, thrilled to be rid of a leader whose early promise after the end of white minority rule in 1980 was overtaken by economic collapse, government dysfunction and human rights violations.

Now the focus turns to Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s long-time deputy who was pushed aside earlier this month as unpopular first lady Grace Mugabe positioned herself to replace him and succeed her husband.

Mnangagwa fled the country, claiming threats against his life.

That led the military to step in a week ago, opening the door for the ruling party and the people to publicly turn against the president.

It was not clear what 93-year-old Mugabe and his wife would do next. Mugabe, who was the world’s oldest head of state, said in his resignation letter that legal procedures should be followed to install a new president “no later than tomorrow.”

It was reported that Mnangagwa would be met on arrival by army commander Constantino Chiwenga and ruling party officials and was expected “to meet Mugabe for a briefing.”

“Everyone was engulfed with excitement and they are looking for a better future, a brighter future with work,” said Patrick Musira on the streets of the capital.

Zimbabwe’s new leaders are faced with a once-prosperous nation whose economy has collapsed, sending well-educated but frustrated young people into desperate work as street vendors. Many have left the country altogether.

Mnangagwa is a former justice and defence minister who served for decades as Mugabe’s enforcer, a role that earned him the nickname Crocodile.

Many opposition supporters believe he was instrumental in the army killings of thousands of people when Mugabe moved against a political rival in the 1980s.

So far Mnangagwa has used inclusive language, saying hours before Mugabe’s resignation that all Zimbabweans should work together to advance their nation.

“Never should the nation be held at ransom by one person ever again, whose desire is to die in office at whatever cost to the nation,” Mnangagwa said.