(Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe's president Photo Credit: China Daily)
The Zimbabwean government has made September 15 a new annual public holiday called Munhumutapa Day.
The date matches the birthday of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who will be turning 84 this year.
According to an official notice published on Wednesday under Statutory Instrument 148 of 2026, the holiday is named after the ancient rulers of the historic Mutapa Empire to celebrate the country's pre-colonial heritage.
However, officials did not give a specific reason for picking the President's birthday as the chosen date.
Shortly after the announcement, President Mnangagwa hinted at staying in power for much longer, telling an audience he would "still be around" in nine years.
This comes after he signed a law extending his current term from 2028 to 2030 by increasing presidential terms from five to seven years.
The new law also removed direct voting for the president, allowing parliament to choose the leader instead.
Critics worry these political changes will help his ruling party, ZANU-PF, maintain its long-held grip on power in Zimbabwe.