{"id":1274,"date":"2025-10-22T23:40:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T23:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/?p=1274"},"modified":"2025-10-22T23:40:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T23:40:54","slug":"zctu-joins-growing-resistance-against-mnangagwas-2030-term-extension-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/2025\/10\/22\/zctu-joins-growing-resistance-against-mnangagwas-2030-term-extension-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"ZCTU Joins Growing Resistance Against Mnangagwa\u2019s 2030 Term Extension Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Fanuel Chinowaita<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
ZCTU Secretary General Tirivanhu Marimo<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mutare, 22 October 2025 <\/strong>– The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has joined a swelling wave of resistance against ZANU PF\u2019s controversial resolution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa\u2019s term of office from 2028 to 2030, warning that tampering with the national Constitution for political gain would plunge the country into chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a hard-hitting statement released yesterday , the labour federation said it was \u201cdeeply disgusted and concerned\u201d by ZANU PF\u2019s move, describing it as \u201ca retrogressive and selfish attempt to mutilate the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ZCTU categorically states that any attempt to butcher the Constitution for personal or partisan political gain is unacceptable and stands in direct violation of the principles of democracy, constitutionalism and respect for the rule of law,\u201d said ZCTU Secretary General Tirivanhu Marimo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The union said Zimbabwe\u2019s Constitution, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by citizens in a 2013 referendum, must not be manipulated to serve individual interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one is irreplaceable or immortal,\u201d the statement added, insisting that Zimbabwe has enough capable leaders to take over the presidency when Mnangagwa\u2019s current term expires in 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ZCTU also warned that constitutional tampering would erode investor confidence and destabilize the economy. \u201cSuch actions risk plunging the nation into political instability and chaos, undermining production, investment, economic growth, and job creation,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The labour body said it would soon embark on nationwide consultations with workers, unions, and civic groups to decide on collective action \u201cin defence of the Constitution,\u201d adding that it is ready to take to the streets if the government proceeds with what it called a \u201cdishonourable 2030 agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ZCTU\u2019s statement follows mounting condemnation from civil society, opposition parties, and legal experts after ZANU PF\u2019s 22nd Annual National People\u2019s Conference held in Mutare resolved to extend Mnangagwa\u2019s term of office by two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the weekend, the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) described the move as \u201creckless, unconstitutional, and a direct attack on the will of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group vowed to mobilize citizens under the #NoTo2030 campaign, saying the resolution violates Section 328 of the Constitution, which requires two national referenda before amending presidential term limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Constitution, our social contract and national covenant, cannot and will not be mutilated to serve narrow political interests,\u201d the CDF said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa also dismissed the ruling party\u2019s resolution, saying it \u201cbinds ZANU PF and its members, not Zimbabwe and her people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, ZANU PF has defended the proposal, saying it is meant to ensure \u201ccontinuity and consolidation of the gains of the Second Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, analysts warn that the push for term extension could deepen political divisions and test the strength of Zimbabwe\u2019s democratic institutions ahead of the 2028 general elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As pressure mounts, the ZCTU says it will remain on the side of democracy and workers\u2019 rights. \u201cWe are not short of solutions to defend the democratic turf,\u201d Marimo said. \u201cWe are prepared to flood the streets if need be. The Constitution must remain the unshakeable framework guiding our nation\u2019s governance, not a tool of political convenience.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Fanuel Chinowaita Mutare, 22 October 2025 – The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has joined a swelling wave of resistance against ZANU PF\u2019s controversial resolution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa\u2019s term of office from 2028 to 2030, warning that tampering with the national Constitution for political gain would plunge the country into chaos….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1274"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1276,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1274\/revisions\/1276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewasupost.co.zw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}