Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has joined the bandwagon, calling for the President’s birthday to be declared a public holiday.
President Mugabe turns 92 on February 21, with the Zanu-PF Youth League organising celebrations in Masvingo province.
In a series of tweets that were sent from his official twitter account, despite criticism from other twitter users, Minister Moyo maintained that declaring the 21st of February as a public holiday would be a noble idea.
All things considered & without prejudice, 21st February deserves to be a public holiday celebrated as #RobertMugabeDay in Zimbabwe!
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 25, 2016
Professor Moyo drew examples from Kenya and the United States saying they all recognise their own President’s Day
North Korea. What are you talking about? There’s Presidents Day in the US, Kenyatta Day in Kenya & the list goes on! https://t.co/NbeOyiy4y0
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 25, 2016
Yes a President’s Day in Zimbabwe like the people of America have their Presidents Day on 15th February 2016! https://t.co/QDhdcEAsPV
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 25, 2016
Public reactions the Tweet
263Chat, through its following on twitter conducted a mini survey to determine public perception on the proposed Mugabe Day. The initiative stirred debate with some people saying it is a misplaced priority.
@misskache @263Chat @ProfJNMoyo Zimbos are failing to celebrate the current holidays on our calendar , lets fix the economy first
— Brighton Madondo (@BrightonMadond1) January 26, 2016
@263Chat @ProfJNMoyo pic.twitter.com/s3dWKqqQTJ
— VimbaiNashe (@just_vimbai) January 26, 2016
@263Chat @ProfJNMoyo celebrate what exactly ? Its a waste of money our economy doesn’t need any more unless public holidays!
— MsCarol (@misskache) January 26, 2016
“@TChivese: #RobertMugabeDay should be followed up by a #BootlickersDay next day. Both paid up public holidays. https://t.co/Z2sgtrz389” ????????????
— Tich Ray (@TichRay) January 26, 2016
However, Coccin Maenzanise feels that the nation owes the President some tribute.
@ProfJNMoyo @263Chat Better to have 21 February a National holiday, then end there. We owe RGM that at least, as a people and a nation.
— Coccin Maenzanise (@CoccinM) January 26, 2016
Meanwhile the party’s national youth secretary, Pupurai Togarepi was quoted in today’s Newsday saying they would go ahead and celebrate the “Robert Mugabe Day” this year and lobby for people to commemorate the day like any other public holiday.
“We have started the procedures to have the day declared a public holiday. We wrote a letter last year to the Justice Ministry, but you know because of government bureaucracy, we are still waiting for them (to respond). However, this year, we will go ahead and celebrate the icon. We will urge people not to go to work and youths will have real celebrations on that day,” said Newsday.
