Tinotenda Hove – President Emmerson Mnangagwa turned 83 on Monday, staging a grand celebration in Zvishavane where he and the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, were seen feeding each other cake in a choreographed display of joy. The event has been branded “Munhumutapa Day,” a new addition to the regime’s propaganda calendar.

While the President basked in personal festivities, millions of Zimbabweans continue to suffer under the weight of poverty, unemployment, and failing public services. Critics argue that such extravagant celebrations expose the widening gulf between the ruling elite and the ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet.

Observers say the attempt to rebrand Mnangagwa’s birthday as a national day is nothing more than a self-serving bid to cement his legacy, while ignoring the mounting crises in health, education, and governance.

As the leadership indulges in cake-cutting ceremonies, the real “celebration” for most Zimbabweans remains a daily fight for survival in an economy that shows little sign of recovery.