Zanu-PF moves to declare Mnangagwa birthday holiday

Zanu-PF has sparked controversy after adopting a resolution equating President Emmerson Mnangagwa with the ancient King Munhumutapa, prompting questions about the party's use of historical symbolism to elevate its leader.

The resolution, passed at Zanu-PF's annual conference, called for Mnangagwa's birthday on September 15 to be declared a national holiday under the name Munhumutapa Day. The motion seeks to elevate the existing commemoration of Munhumutapa Day into a full public holiday in honour of the president. The resolution states in part: "Declare September 15 as Munhumutapa Day in recognition of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa."

Observers note the move echoes the precedent set in 2017 when the birthday of the late President Robert Mugabe was declared Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day, following lobbying by the Zanu-PF youth league and formal proclamation by Mnangagwa.

King Munhumutapa, also known as Mwenemutapa, ruled the ancient Kingdom of Mutapa, which spanned present-day Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique. The kingdom is widely regarded as a symbol of precolonial statehood and authority in the region.

Ahead of this year's Munhumutapa Day celebrations, the government clarified that no official request had been received to turn September 15 into a national holiday. Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe emphasised that the day would not be elevated to a public holiday, underscoring a disconnect between party resolutions and government action.

Complicating matters, Zimbabwe already has a self-proclaimed King Munhumutapa, Timothy Chiminya, who claims to have been appointed by a spirit medium and reinstated by the High Court in September 2022. Chiminya has attempted to exercise authority over traditional leadership, including installing chiefs, prompting intervention by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. Authorities argue that Chiminya's actions ridiculed the Office of the President by attempting to usurp executive powers, leading to his arrest.

The Zanu-PF resolution and Chiminya's claims highlight the ongoing contestation over historical and traditional symbols in Zimbabwe, raising debates about the intersection of culture, politics, and state authority in the modern era.