Government Clarifies: Monday a Normal Working Day After Independence Celebrations
The Government has confirmed that Monday will be a normal working day. It has dismissed expectations of a public holiday after this year’s Independence Day celebrations fell on a Saturday.
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No Substitute Holiday Granted
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Ambassador Raphael Faranisi, said there will be no additional day off.
“It’s not a holiday,” he said, making it clear that Monday remains part of the regular working week.
Legal Basis for Public Holidays
Authorities explained that Zimbabwe’s public holiday system only allows for a substitute day off under specific conditions.
According to the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act, a replacement holiday is only granted when an official public holiday falls on a Sunday, in which case the following Monday becomes a holiday.
Since Independence Day fell on a Saturday this year, the provision does not apply.
Framework Governing Holidays
The Act establishes the country’s public holidays and regulates business operations on days of national significance. It also gives the President authority to declare additional public holidays through a statutory instrument if necessary.
However, in this instance, no such declaration has been made, meaning normal working schedules remain in effect.
Work Continues as Usual
With the clarification, businesses, government offices, and the wider public are expected to operate as normal on Monday, despite the long weekend celebrations marking Independence Day.
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