27th Dec declared public holiday

THE Government has declared Tuesday December 27 a public holiday. Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity Mr George Charamba yesterday said the declaration of Tuesday as a holiday was meant to compensate for Christmas Day that falls on Sunday.

"The Monday following a holiday that falls on a Sunday is automatically a public holiday.

"However, this year Monday 26 December is Boxing Day, meaning that the next day should be a public holiday.

"This is in order to compensate for the Christmas Day that's celebrated on Sunday this year," said Mr Charamba.

Declaration of 27 December as a public holiday is in terms of Section 2 (1) of the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act (Chapter 10:21). Chronicle has been inundated with calls from members of the public inquiring  whether 27 Tuesday December was a public holiday or not, since some calendars do not show its status. Government has since published holidays for 2012.

According to the schedule, New Year's Day will be on a Sunday, making the following day, 2 January a public holiday as well.

Good Friday will be on April 6, followed by Easter Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday on 9 April 2012.

Independence Day will be commemorated on Wednesday, 18 April  2012. Workers' Day will be on Tuesday 1 May 2012.

Africa Day will be commemorated on Friday 25 May, while Heroes' Day and Defence Forces' Day will be commemorated on Monday August 13 and 14 respectively.

National Unity Day will be on Saturday 22 December 2012 while Christmas Day will be celebrated on Tuesday 25 December 2012.- Harare Bureau/Chronicle Reporter.