Robert Gabriel National Youth Day 2023: Date, History, Facts

Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day is observed annually on February 21 to honour the nation’s first prime minister, acknowledge youth’s contributions to the nation’s development, and encourage young people to adopt good leadership values. Did you know that from 1980 to 2017, Robert Gabriel Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 30 years? National Youth Day of the R.G.M. is a part of the February 21 Movement, which began in 1986. As a result of Mugabe’s forced resignation as president, it became a national holiday. In commemoration of Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day, businesses and schools are closed in Zimbabwe.

The background of Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day

Robert Gabriel Mugabe was born in Kutama Mission, Southern Rhodesia, on February 21, 1924, to a carpenter father and a Christian catechist mother. In the local Jesuit mission, where he received his early education under the supervision of Father Jerome O’Hea, he developed a revolutionary mindset. In 1941, Mugabe received an acceptance letter to Kutama College for teacher training. After completing his teacher training in 1945, Mugabe left Kutama and began teaching in schools throughout Southern Rhodesia. In 1949, he received a scholarship to attend the University of Fort Hare in South Africa. During his time at university, he was exposed to nationalist and Marxist politics. In 1952, Mugabe received a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Zimbabwe.

Mugabe taught in Northern Rhodesia and Ghana between 1953 and 1960, while also taking correspondence courses for Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science in economics. After returning to Northern Rhodesia in 1960, Mugabe launched his political career in earnest. He was a member of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) before forming the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) with other supporters due to Joshua Nkomo’s lack of determination. Mugabe was arrested in 1964 and spent the next decade in prison. He collaborated with Nkomo, the leader of the Patriotic Front (P.F.) of Zimbabwe, to launch a guerrilla war against the Rhodesian government after his release in late 1974. The civil war lasted until 1979, when the British consented to a change to majority-Black rule. In February of the following year, parliamentary elections held under British supervision were won by ZANU, led by Robert Mugabe.

From 1980 to 1987, Mugabe served as Zimbabwe’s first prime minister. In 1987, he amended the Zimbabwean constitution to establish a single-party political system. He became Zimbabwe’s first executive president and remained in power until 2017 by using violence and intimidation to win subsequent elections. Mugabe was overthrown in a coup on November 15, 2017, and replaced by his former vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa declared February 21, Mugabe’s birthday, to be Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day on November 27, 2017, during his inauguration.

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5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe has sixteen official languages, making it the country with the most official languages according to the Guinness World Records.

Victoria Falls, shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, is the world’s largest waterfall at over 5,600 feet in height.

Lake Kabira is the largest reservoir and artificial lake in the world.

During the height of the country’s inflation, Zimbabweans began using foreign currencies, including the South African Rand, Botswana Pula, and United States Dollar.

Khami Ruins, Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Matobo Hills, Victoria Falls, and Mana Pools are some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Africa.

ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE NATIONAL YOUTH DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	February 21	Tuesday
2024	February 21	Wednesday
2025	February 21	Friday
2026	February 21	Saturday
2027	February 21	Sunday