GOVERNMENT yesterday said the National Youth Day gazetted
in November 2017 in honour of the late former President Robert Mugabe, no
longer has anything to do with his legacy, but was now a day to “share with
youths the successes and future programmes of the new dispensation”.
Mugabe’s birthday was February 21 and the day had
traditionally been dedicated towards celebrating his political achievements.
Celebrated each year since 1986 under the banner of 21st
February Movement in honour of the now late former Zanu PF leader who died last
September, the day was only officially declared a public holiday the same month
he was toppled by his former confidante Emmerson Mnangagwa in a November 2017
military coup.
But yesterday, Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi
Mangwana said the day had nothing to do with the late Statesman, adding that it
was just a coincidence that the holiday fell on his birthday.
“Today is not Mugabe’s day, it is a day for the youths. It
is a national youth day and the Minister of Youth (Kirsty Coventry) gave a
statement yesterday (Thursday),” Mangwana said.
“The whole point is that it is a national youth holiday
which obviously coincides with the birth of the late former President Robert
Mugabe, but the holiday is a national youth day. If you want to focus on
people’s birthdays, did you call me when it was President Mnangagwa’s
birthday?”
In her speech, Coventry said the day was meant for
government to share with the youths the successes and future programmes of the
Mnangagwa administration.
But in 2016, then Zanu PF youth leader Pupurai Togarepi
proposed the Robert Mugabe Day “in recognition of the immense contributions he
has made to Zimbabwe.” Then Mugabe was revered and idolised by his Zanu PF
followers who even implored him to continue in power despite his advanced age.
After his ouster, Mugabe broke ties with his ‘tormentors’
and died a bitter man, culminating in his private burial at his rural Kutama
home as his widow, Grace, refused to have his remains interred at the National
Heroes Acre.
Yesterday, the Mugabe family snubbed government officials
and held a private memorial service dubbed 21st February memorial service at
their Blue Roof residence in Borrowdale, Harare where only close family members
were invited.
“There is a function, but is a private family function
though,” Mugabe family relative and former Epworth Member of Parliament Zalera
Makari said while confirming the Blue Roof event.
Mugabe’s legacy continues to divide the nation with his
rivals still blaming him for the country’s current economic and political
instability, while others continue to idolise him.
Former Harare Zanu PF provincial commissar Shadreck
Mashayamombe and die-hard Mugabe supporter said the late leader was in a class
of his own and people were beginning to miss him.
“Gushungo you were not holy, but you have proven that you
were much better than what is here with us today. Most people are now saying
you were better. The prayer of the people of Zimbabwe was or is to have someone
better than you. People want to enjoy in their own country, have peace and
joy,” he said.
Former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere said
those who took over from Mugabe had failed to take his vision forward.
“Do they even know what a vision is? For one to talk of
vision, you should know what a vision is. It is about deeply thinking on how to
take the country forward, how I should behave, but now we see a huge crisis,
queues all over,” Kasukuwere said.
MDC youth leader Obey Sithole said : “When we talk about
Mugabe, we reflect of a man who presided over the murder of several
Zimbabweans. He led to the destruction of our industries leading to high
joblessness, a predicament that we are still battling with.” Newsday
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