President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially declared September 15 a public holiday to be known as Munhumutapa Day, effective immediately and annually, through Statutory Instrument 148 of 2026. The chosen date coincides with the President’s birthday, a move critics argue is part of a growing personality cult around the Zimbabwean leader.
The notice, published in the Government Gazette Extraordinary, states: “It is hereby declared that the 15th of September every year henceforth, shall be a public holiday to be known as Munhumutapa Day.” Munhumutapa was the royal title used by rulers of the pre-colonial Mutapa Empire, which the government says celebrates Zimbabwe’s rich heritage. However, opponents point out that the declaration follows a recent constitutional amendment that extended Mnangagwa’s second term from five to seven years, effectively pushing the next elections from 2028 to 2030, and some supporters have even suggested transforming his presidency into a monarchy.
At the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Masvingo, Mnangagwa further stoked controversy by telling attendees that in nine years, when the expo rotates back to the province, he would still be in power. “After nine years, when we will be rotating provinces to host this event, I will still be in power,” he said, implying his rule would extend to at least 2035. This remark comes just months after the constitutional changes that effectively cancelled the 2028 elections, drawing swift condemnation from opposition figures.
Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has publicly rejected the extension, declaring that he will leave office in 2028 in accordance with the original constitution, not the amended one. Other critics question the necessity of a public holiday on the president’s birthday at a time when the country is grappling with economic hardships and widespread poverty. They view the dual announcements as coordinated steps to entrench power and glorify the presidency, drawing parallels to monarchical traditions rather than democratic norms.
Government officials, however, maintain that Munhumutapa Day is intended to honor Zimbabwe’s pre-colonial civilization and promote national pride. But with the president’s own words signaling a desire to remain in office beyond the previously mandated timeline, the holiday is unlikely to be seen as a purely cultural celebration.
