GOVERNMENT has declared tomorrow a public holiday in lieu of today’s National Youth Day that is commemorated to honour the country’s founding leader, the late former president Robert Mugabe.

February 21 was proclaimed a holiday in 2017 in recognition of Cde Mugabe’s works in championing the 21st February Movement that celebrates the contribution of young people to local political and socio-economic development.

The late national hero was born on February 21, 1924.

In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage advised the public that the holiday will be rolled over to tomorrow.

“In terms of the Extraordinary Government Gazette of 2 October 2020, on the Public Holidays in 2021, Sunday 21st February is the National Youth Day,” read the statement.

“Section 1 (i) of the Public Holidays and Prohibitions of the Business Act [Chapter 10:21] provides that: when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following shall be a public holiday; since the National Youth Day falls on a Sunday. It therefore follows that the public holiday will roll over to Monday 22 February 2021. Please be guided accordingly.”

Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry said National Youth Day is a window of opportunity for young people to create dialogue with Government aimed at bridging intergenerational gaps.- The Sunday Mail