By Tichaona Katsvamutima
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has formally declared September 15, which coincides with his birthday, an annual public holiday known as Munhumutapa Day.
The announcement, formalised through an official Government Gazette, establishes the annual holiday in honor of the historic Munhumutapa Empire—a prominent pre-colonial Shona state that dominated the region between the 15th and 18th centuries, renowned for its extensive trade networks, architectural achievements, and rich cultural heritage.
The declaration is contained in Statutory Instrument 148 of 2026, published in an Extraordinary Government Gazette dated September 9 under the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act [Chapter 10:21].




