Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day
Observed annually on February 21st each year in Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day is a holiday that honors the country’s first prime minister. Robert Mugabe served Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 as prime minister, and then from 1987 to 2017 as President.
Zimbabwe (Public holiday)Although the original purpose of this holiday was to honor Mugabe and still is to a certain extent, over the last few years, this holiday has increasingly been used to celebrate the country’s youth. In 2021, it was announced that this holiday would be an annual Youth Day for the entire country and would be used to recognize their contributions.
The History of Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day
On February 21, 1924, Robert Gabriel Mugabe was born in Kutama, Southern Rhodesia. He secured a job as a school teacher before he inevitably became involved in the African nationalist protest that called for Southern Rhodesia to become independent from Britain. In 1964, he was arrested and remained in prison until 1974 for making anti-government comments.
When he was released from prison, he became the leader of the ZANU Patriotic Front. He then took part in the peace negotiations that worked towards the end of white minority rule and independence from Britain.
During the general election of 1980, he led the ZANU Patriotic Front to victory and became the first prime minister of Zimbabwe, serving from 1980 to 1987. In 1987, he was elected President.
He stepped down in 2017 after mass demonstrations and military intervention ended his career. He died on September 6, 2019, in Singapore, at the age of 95.
Observing Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day
When President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed power on November 27, 2017, he announced the holiday as a way to show respect to Robert Gabriel Mugabe. This holiday is observed every year with general proclamations and by honoring the achievements of young people in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe (Public holiday)
