Online Reporter
Elliot Ziwira, Features and Supplements Editor
Today, Zimbabweans gather in Zvishavane, the heart of the Midlands Province, to mark a day pregnant with symbolism and history.
Over 30 000 people, mostly youths, are expected to converge for Munhumutapa Day, a commemoration that speaks to the determination and greatness of African civilisation.
However, this day goes beyond looking back. It looks forward too, for it coincides with the International Day of Democracy, and President Mnangagwa’s birthday.
That these three moments align on one day cannot be mere coincidence. Rather, it is a demonstration of how history, democracy, and leadership intertwine to shape the destiny of nations.
Munhumutapa Day evokes the grandeur of Zimbabwe’s past, while the International Day of Democracy affirms the values that guide nations in the present, and the celebration of President Mnangagwa’s life acknowledges a servant leader whose vision carries Zimbabwe into the future.
The Munhumutapa Empire, which stretched across parts of modern-day Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and beyond, symbolises African ingenuity, resilience, and statecraft. It was a civilisation built on agriculture, mining, and international trade, standing tall as a guiding light of African sovereignty long before colonialism.
In commemorating Munhumutapa Day, Zimbabwe reconnects with that history, asserting that the values of unity, resourcefulness, and self-determination are not new inventions, but age-old traditions that run in the nation’s veins.
The empire’s legacy reminds us that greatness lies within, and that leadership rooted in cultural heritage always outlasts systems imposed from outside.
President Mnangagwa’s life story slots in with this history. Just as Munhumutapa leaders guarded sovereignty while expanding horizons, so too has ED positioned himself as a guardian of independence and a champion of progress.
His call for “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” (a country is built by its own people) is more than a political slogan. It is a reawakening of the Munhumutapa spirit.
The alignment with the International Day of Democracy is equally instructive. Democracy, at its core, is about listening to the people, respecting their will, and governing in their interest. It is not an abstract idea imported from faraway lands, but a living principle that echoes Africa’s traditions of consensus-building and collective decision-making.
Since assuming office in November 2017, President Mnangagwa has emphasised dialogue, inclusivity, and openness. Politics, once hushed and taboo, has become an open conversation in homes, workplaces, and social gatherings. Emotive issues, such as Gukurahundi, have found space for honest discussion under his leadership, for reconciliation and healing cannot occur without dialogue.
International Day of Democracy implores nations to recommit themselves to these values. For Zimbabwe, it is a chance to celebrate how far it has come under a leader who consistently reminds his colleagues in Government to be “humble and responsive in their interactions with citizens.”
President Mnangagwa’s leadership style has often been described as servant leadership; a philosophy that places the people at the centre of governance. A servant leader listens, empowers, and builds alongside the people.
His visits to farming communities, his youth empowerment programmes, and his town-hall-style engagements reveal a man who believes that solutions do not always come from the top. They come from listening to the lived experiences of citizens, which echoes Montesquieu’s timeless insight: “In a country of liberty, every man ought to be his own governor.”
The President himself has acknowledged this by ensuring that ordinary Zimbabweans feel ownership of the national project. In his words and actions, he insists that leaders are merely stewards, entrusted with the hopes of the people, accountable to them, and ultimately answerable before history.
No test of leadership has been greater than the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when nations were paralysed by fear, uncertainty, and misinformation, President Mnangagwa provided clarity and reassurance. His call to unity: “Let us unite in fighting this invisible enemy,” galvanised the nation.
Hence, as a servant leader, he typifies courage through storms.
He acted swiftly, guided by science and compassion. While global debates raged over vaccine choices, Zimbabwe moved with resolve under his direction. Citizens were encouraged to get vaccinated not through coercion but through persuasion and trust.
Billboards across the country bore his message of gratitude to those who had responded to the call.
It was leadership rooted in humility yet firm in conviction, steering the national ship through stormy seas with a steady hand. Like a seasoned captain, he kept Zimbabwe afloat when others faltered.
Yet, servant leadership is not only about words, for words are cheap. It must be matched by tangible progress. Under President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has witnessed a wave of infrastructural renewal. Roads, bridges, and dams have been constructed or rehabilitated, stitching together communities and opening economic opportunities. The resurgence of agriculture, through mechanisation, input support, and farmer training, has boosted food security, turning Zimbabwe once again into a breadbasket. At the same time, reforms have been introduced to attract investment, modernise industries, and empower entrepreneurs.
Healthcare and education have also seen advancements, with new facilities expanding access and improving quality. In this clarity of vision, Zimbabwe stands tall not only in history but in contemporary development, driven by her people’s resolve.
That every nation carries scars is known to humanity. For Zimbabwe, land reform and historical conflicts have long been contentious. But President Mnangagwa has shown willingness to confront these legacies. Through promotion of inclusive policies and opening dialogue on sensitive issues, he has underlined that unity and reconciliation are the bedrock of progress.
Therefore, Zimbabwe’s children must heal the past and unite for the future.
That is the essence of democracy: acknowledging diverse perspectives, respecting differences, and finding common ground. In doing so, the President affirms that Zimbabwe’s future must be built not on divisions but on shared heritage and collective responsibility.
Leadership of this nature does not go unnoticed. On the international stage, President Mnangagwa has steadily repositioned Zimbabwe as a co-operative and responsible partner. His policy of “engagement and re-engagement” has earned the country new friends while consolidating old alliances.
His Chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from August 17, 2024 to August 17, 2025 testifies to his statesmanship. The region recognises in him a leader who can balance sovereignty with cooperation, tradition with modernity, and national priorities with global expectations.
Biblical imagery often speaks of leaders raised from among their people; familiar yet chosen, humble yet destined for greatness. President Mnangagwa’s journey reflects this. Once underestimated by some, he has emerged as a figure embodying both prophecy and pragmatism.
As Acts 3:22-23 records: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.”
Leadership is never about self-glorification.
It is about heeding the call of history when the time is ripe.
Today, Zimbabwe celebrates not just the birthday of a man but the fulfilment of that prophetic call — a leader raised from among his people to guide them toward the promised land of prosperity, unity, and peace.
President Mnangagwa has always situated youths at the centre.
That over 30 000 young people will mark this day is significant. History recalls that the Munhumutapa Empire thrived because its youths were builders, traders, and warriors.
Democracy thrives when youths participate actively, not passively. And leadership flourishes when young people are empowered to take responsibility for their nation’s destiny.
President Mnangagwa has consistently invested in young people, through education, entrepreneurship, and innovation hubs, for he knows that the baton of history cannot be dropped. Youths are not merely tomorrow’s leaders, no! They are today’s builders.
It is interesting to note how legacies meet on September 15.
Munhumutapa Day, the International Day of Democracy, and President Mnangagwa’s birthday converge to tell one powerful story: that Zimbabwe is a nation with deep roots, democratic aspirations, and a leader who embodies servant leadership.
As Zimbabweans celebrate today, they should remember that history is not a relic, democracy is not an abstraction, and leadership is not about power for its own sake.
While history gives us identity, democracy gives us voice, and servant leadership gives us direction.
President Mnangagwa’s life and work embody all three. His humility, courage, and people-centred approach inspire Zimbabweans to believe in themselves, to unite, and to build. Like the Munhumutapa leaders of old, he calls the nation to greatness.
Like democracy’s best champions, he insists on dialogue and inclusivity. And like a true servant leader, he walks with his people, not above them. His words echo the wisdom of Communist Party of China (CPC) General Secretary Xi Jinping — also the People’s Republic of China president, who affirmed, “This country is its people; the people are the country.”
As the nation honours him today, Zimbabwe affirms her commitment to building a future anchored on heritage, democracy, and servant leadership; a future where every citizen has a role, and where the dreams of generations past find fulfilment in the triumphs of generations to come.
