Zimbabwe’s Vice President Kembo Mohadi on Monday stepped down, battered by reports of a scandal involving illicit sexual relations.

His statement of resignation took effect immediately, but Mohadi maintained his innocence, blaming disinformation for his stepping down.

He said he decided to resign "not as a matter of cowardice but as a sign of demonstrating great respect to the office of the President."

In the letter, released to the media by the president's office, Mohadi said he was the victim of voice forgery.

Claims made via social media contained alleged recordings of his telephone calls with married women.

The resignation made Mohadi the first vice president of Zimbabwe to resign from office since independence.