Zimbabwe has officially declared February 21 a public holiday.

This day is the birthday of the country’s former president Robert Gabriel Mugabe. The day will be recognised as Mugabe National Youth Day.

Calls for the former president's birthday to be made a national holiday was adopted by the government in August, following intense lobbying by the Zanu-PF Youth League, the Herald reports.

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The decision was officially recorded on Friday, it adds.

According to Zimbabwe’s Herald Newspaper, the new President who was sworn in after Mugabe resigned is expected to form a cabinet this week.

Mugabe wrote a resignation letter to Zimbabwe’s Speaker of Parliament announcing his decision to step-down.

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Last week, President Mnangagwa said the former president needed to be given the respect and recognition he deserved as one of the founders and leaders of Zimbabwe.

"To me personally, he remains a father, mentor, comrade-in-arms and my leader," he said during his acceptance speech at his inauguration on Friday.