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Zimbabweans mark new public holiday to commemorate Mugabe's birthday

Xinhua,February 21, 2018 Adjust font size:

HARARE, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabweans will on Wednesday commemorate the country's newest public holiday -- the Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day -- in honor of former President Robert Mugabe who was born Feb. 21, 1924.

Zanu-PF spokesperson and acting information minister Simon Khaya Moyo said there would be no national activities to mark the day, but the party would send a cake and best wishes to the former president.

"It is a day we treasure and we revere the former president," he said on Tuesday.

Although Mugabe was forced out of power in Nov. 2017, youths in the ruling Zanu-PF party had already successfully lobbied for his birthday to be declared a public holiday.

New President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the day a public holiday soon after taking office on Nov. 24.

However, many workers and pupils were not aware that they would be taking a mid-week break, with some expressing pleasant surprise. Enditem