Zimbabwe declares Mugabe’s birthday holiday

Zimbabwean government has declared February 21 a national holiday in honour of President Robert Mugabe’s birthday, after lobbying by the ruling Zanu-PF party’s youth league.

The announcement is the latest in a series of efforts to secure the legacy of the veteran politician who has been in power since 1980.

In declaring this day, we would like to highlight to our youths the values and principles so brilliantly displayed by President R.G. Mugabe which have resulted in an exemplary life that our youths can emulate, state-owned Herald newspaper quoted home affairs minister Ignatius Chombo as saying.

He said the cabinet made the decision after years of lobbying by the ruling party which also said it wants the country’s main airport named after Mugabe.

Most cities and towns in Zimbabwe already have a road named after Robert Mugabe. In Harare, the public square that most political parties use for rallies also bears his name.

President Mugabe has exhibited the following values that any fair-minded Zimbabwean would want their youths to emulate: self-sacrifice, selflessness, patriotism, hard work, principled leadership, respect for others, compassion and empathy, among others,”he said.