Zimbabwe National Youth Day Commemorations: Drug and Substance Abuse: A Threat To Vision 2023, Every Community’s Responsibility

Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day is a public holiday in Zimbabwe commemorating former President Robert Mugabe’s birthday. Robert Mugabe was born February 21, 1924, Kutama, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and died September 6, 2019 in Singapore.

The ZANU–PF Youth League has commemorated Robert Mugabe on his birthday in February for years as part of its February 21st Movement which was established in 1986. The youth arm of the ruling party lobbied for the former president’s birthday to be declared a national holiday for what the organization says was the leader’s role in empowering the country’s youth.

This years theme is dedicated to the fight against substance abuse and will be held in Matabeleland South Province – Lupane State University. More than 30 000 people are expected to gather with President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the guest of honor.

Through the ruling party mantra of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’, this year’s celebrations moved to Matebeleland South Province for the first time.
The day was formally recognized as a national holiday on November 27th 2017, three days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as leader of Zimbabwe following a coup which led to the resignation of Mugabe as President.
The holiday was formalized through the publication of a statutory instrument in The Herald under the virtue of section 2 of the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act.
Robert Mugabe would have turned 99 this year.