Tiyani Hahlani
Centre News Hub
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has alleged that attempts to interfere with its constitutional processes pose a threat to the independence of the country’s largest labour federation ahead of a series of key internal conferences and national Congress scheduled between July and October this year.
In a bold statement issued by Secretary General, Tirivanhu Marimo, the labour body said it had received “credible information” suggesting that individuals were seeking to interfere with the Congress’s constitutional affairs by attempting to use State institutions and processes to influence its internal governance.
“The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) wishes to alert its affiliated unions, workers, social partners, the people of Zimbabwe, the international trade union movement and the international community to credible information suggesting attempts to interfere with the constitutional affairs of the Congress,” Marimo said.
According to the statement, the alleged efforts are linked to individuals associated with those who “unsuccessfully did not support the election of the Secretary General at the ZCTU General Conference held in August 2025.”
The federation alleged that the individuals were seeking “to enlist the support of State institutions and processes in an attempt to achieve administratively or judicially what they failed to secure democratically through the ballot.”
Marimo said information available to the ZCTU indicated that the alleged plan involved the use of “financial support, administrative influence and legal processes” to interfere with preparations for the Regional, Youth, Women’s and 10th General Conferences.
The statement further alleged that the objective was to disrupt the administration of the Congress and remove or suspend the Secretary General outside the constitutional procedures provided for in the ZCTU Constitution.
“It is important to emphasise that the individuals allegedly promoting this course of action neither represent the collective will of the ZCTU nor the overwhelming majority of its constitutional organs.
“They constitute a small minority pursuing personal interests and ambitions through the alleged improper request for support of State authority in matters that belong exclusively to the democratic governance of ZCTU,” said Marimo.
The labour federation reaffirmed that it remains an independent, democratic and autonomous workers’ organisation whose leadership and constitutional processes are determined solely by its members in accordance with its Constitution.
“The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is an independent, democratic and autonomous workers’ organisation established and governed by its Constitution and the laws of Zimbabwe. No external institution, political actor or State agency possesses any lawful authority to determine the leadership, administration or constitutional processes of the Congress,” Marimo said.
The statement also referred to Zimbabwe’s obligations under International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 and 98, which protect workers’ rights to establish and administer organisations free from interference by public authorities.
Marimo called on state institutions to execute their constitutional and statutory responsibilities impartially and refrain from becoming involved in the internal affairs of the Congress.
“The ZCTU therefore calls upon all State institutions to discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities impartially, professionally and independently, and to refrain from becoming involved in internal matters that properly belong to the membership and constitutional organs of the Congress,” he said.
The federation urged its affiliates, workers, delegates and members to remain calm, vigilant and united ahead of the forthcoming conferences, saying they would proceed strictly in accordance with the ZCTU Constitution.
Marimo said the Congress would “vigorously defend its constitutional independence through every lawful national, regional and international mechanism available to it,” adding that any alleged interference contrary to international labour standards would be reported to the International Labour Organization and other relevant regional and international bodies.
The ZCTU concluded by reaffirming its commitment to constitutional governance, democratic accountability and the defense of workers’ rights, saying the independence of the trade union movement “is not negotiable” and is protected by both Zimbabwe’s Constitution and international law.
