The Zimbabwean Government has announced the addition of a new public holiday, Munhumutapa Day, which will be celebrated on the 15th of September 2025. This significant announcement was made in terms of Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act [Chapter 10:21], through General Notice 954 of 2024.
It should be noted that, in terms of Section 2(2), the schedule of public holidays does not include any additional days that the President may declare as public holidays under the same Act. This means that the President retains the privilege to declare a public holiday at any time during the course of 2025.
Members of the public are therefore advised to observe the 2025 list of public holidays. This is important because Section 3(3) of the Act provides that it is unlawful to transact or conduct any business in contravention of its provisions.
Furthermore, the law stipulates that any person who transacts or conducts business, or opens any institution or premises, in contravention of the notice will be guilty of an offence. Such an offence may result in a fine not exceeding level five, imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both.
What’s your take on the new public holiday?