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The Herald, February 21, 1989

THE 21st February Youth Movement celebrates its third anniversary today, the 65th birthday of President Mugabe, the patron of the movement along with Amai Sally Mugabe, the First Lady.

The main anniversary celebrations will take place countrywide this weekend with the President addressing members on Sunday and with his address being read by governors in the provinces immediately afterwards.

The movement was founded in 1986 and the link was established between it and the President’s birthday as a tribute to his leadership and his determination to better the life of the nation’s children.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

 Today is National Youth Day whose background stems from the 21st February Youth Movement, which started off as a commemoration of the ideals and principles that the late former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe stood for.

 Today, the late icon, revolutionary and Zimbabwe’s founding father, would have turned 100.

 The 21st February Movement was established in 1986. Until a few years ago, the day was largely celebrated by the Zanu PF Youth League. It was a partisan affair.

 21 February was declared a public holiday in 2017, following the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 143.

 Today’s celebrations are held at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre in Masvingo Province, and are headlined by President Mnangagwa.

 This year’s theme is: “Positioning youth empowerment and development towards Vision 2030.”