Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has stated that the overthrow of former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe did not come as a surprise to him.

That notwithstanding, he said considering his earlier greatness his nature of exit was sad.

“He peharps should have found a way to ease himself out of office [to avoid being overthrown]. I wasn’t too surprised but it was just a sad thing that he should go out that way,” he told Starr Chat host Bola Ray Wednesday.

Mugabe was forced to resign last month following a house arrest and internal wrangling within the ZANU-PF ruling party.

Lawmakers roared in jubilation and people celebrated in the streets over the news.

Mr Mugabe had previously refused to resign despite the military takeover and days of protests. He had been in power since independence in 1980.

What triggered the moves to oust him was his dismissal of Emmerson Mnangagwa as vice-president two weeks earlier.

That decision was seen by many as clearing the way for Mr Mugabe’s wife, Grace, to succeed him as leader. It riled the military leadership, who stepped in and put Mr Mugabe under house arrest.