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 first prime minister in that country. Robert Mugabe served Zimbabwe from 1980 through 1987 as prime minister, and then 1978 through 2017 as Zimbabwe President.
Zimbabwe (Public holiday)Although the original purpose of this holiday is to honor Mugabe and still is to a certain extent, over the last few years, this holiday has been increasingly 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 will 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 would secure 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 would be arrested and he would remain in prison until 1974 for making comments against the government.
When he was released from prison, he would become the leader of the ZANU Patriotic Front. He would then take 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 would lead the ZANU Patriotic Front to victory and become the first prime minister in Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987. In 1987, he was elected President.
He would end up stepping down in 2017 after mass demonstrations and military intervention ended his career. He would die on September 6, 2019, in Napier Road, Singapore. He was 95 years old.
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 honoring the achievements of young people in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe (Public holiday)
