A faction within Zanu PF pushing the controversial ED2030 agenda is reportedly lobbying for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s birthday to be declared a national public holiday — a move critics say is part of an orchestrated attempt to entrench his cult of personality as succession battles intensify in the ruling party.
According to insiders, this year’s Munhumutapa Day commemorations in Zvishavane, Midlands Province, scheduled for tomorrow, are expected to provide the launchpad for the campaign. The event, which Mnangagwa’s loyalists want institutionalised as an annual holiday, will be tied to the President’s birthday on Monday. He is officially turning 83, though his age has long been shrouded in controversy.
Mnangagwa’s official biography records his date of birth as 15 September 1942, which would make him 83 this year. Yet speculation about his true age has persisted for decades. During the 1960s, when he was arrested by Rhodesian authorities for sabotage, court records allegedly listed his age as older than what he later claimed.
Critics argue that over time his birth records may have been adjusted to align with political convenience, particularly around retirement thresholds. During the 2017 coup that toppled long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, rumours about Mnangagwa’s age resurfaced, with some suggesting he could have been closer to 86 or 87 at the time. That speculation has raised doubts about his capacity to lead well into the 2030s, as his allies within the ED2030 faction are now pushing for.
Mnangagwa National Day Campaign Gains Momentum Among Loyalists
Mnangagwa himself has leaned into historical symbolism, embracing the moniker “Munhumutapa” in reference to the rulers of the pre-colonial Mutapa Empire. Critics say this self-styling feeds into a creeping personality cult that is increasingly being woven into state narratives and events.
The campaign for a Mnangagwa holiday comes against the backdrop of sharp divisions in Zanu PF over succession. Mnangagwa’s loyalists, operating under the ED2030 banner, are agitating for constitutional amendments to extend his rule beyond 2028, the year his current second term ends under existing provisions.
In contrast, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s faction argues that 2028 should mark a natural transition of power. Chiwenga is widely believed to harbour presidential ambitions, especially given his central role in orchestrating the 2017 coup that ushered Mnangagwa into power.
The rivalry between the two camps has already led to a series of purges targeting provincial leaders accused of siding with Chiwenga. Meanwhile, Mnangagwa has elevated his allies into key state and party positions, including Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, and Information Minister, Jenfan Muswere.
The tensions are expected to come to a head at next month’s 22nd National People’s Conference in Mutare, where succession politics and Mnangagwa’s long-term future are anticipated to dominate discussions.
Supporters of the proposal argue that Mnangagwa deserves to be formally honoured as a national figure. Linking his birthday to Munhumutapa Day, they say, would celebrate both his personal legacy and Zimbabwe’s historical heritage.
Muswere, speaking ahead of the commemorations, praised Mnangagwa as a “visionary and global statesman.”
“We are celebrating the life of a statesman, a visionary, a man of the people who has dedicated his life to the freedom and prosperity of the people of Zimbabwe,” he said. “He is not only committed to achieving an upper-middle-income society by 2030 but is also a champion for global peace and security.”
Critics, however, dismiss such rhetoric as sycophantic praise-singing. Opposition leaders and analysts warn that transforming the President’s birthday into a holiday would deepen authoritarian tendencies and elevate Mnangagwa above national institutions.
“This is a dangerous slide into Mugabe-style politics,” said one political analyst. “The country is facing a collapsing economy, mass unemployment, and an exodus of young people, yet Zanu PF wants to prioritise creating a holiday for Mnangagwa. It shows how detached the ruling elite have become from the real struggles of ordinary citizens.”
The push for a Mnangagwa holiday is the latest in a series of initiatives that critics say are designed to glorify the President. These include renaming streets and institutions in his honour, as well as amplifying state media narratives portraying him as the sole architect of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery.
Observers note strong parallels with the late Mugabe era, when the ruling party celebrated “Unity Day” and “Mugabe Day” as annual markers of loyalty. The difference, critics argue, is that Zimbabweans today are far more disillusioned with political rituals, as demonstrated by low voter turnouts in recent by-elections.
Whether the campaign for a Mnangagwa holiday succeeds remains uncertain. While his loyalists appear determined to push the idea, any official declaration would require parliamentary approval, where Zanu PF currently enjoys a commanding majority.
For the opposition and Mnangagwa’s internal rivals, the holiday campaign is being read less as a genuine tribute and more as an attempt to solidify his political survival strategy.
As Mnangagwa prepares to celebrate his 83rd birthday on Monday, the calls for a public holiday underscore not just personal adulation but also the deepening factional contest over Zimbabwe’s future leadership.
Source – zimeye
