Tiyani Hahlani
Centre News Hub
HARARE – A leadership wrangle within the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has intensified after some leaders of the labour union announced the suspension of Secretary General Tirivanhu Marimo over alleged acts of misconduct, a move he has dismissed as unconstitutional and without legal effect.
The development has split the country’s biggest workers’ representative body, with some affiliates and general members slamming the national labour centre, President Florence Taruvinga, who led the suspension of Marimo.
The members are accusing Taruvinga of working against the interests of workers by trying to silence vocal and militant Marimo for being the voice of workers against injustices in the country.
In a statement, ZCTU President Taruvinga said Marimo had been suspended and relieved of all official duties on behalf of the Congress.
“The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) would like to notify all affiliates, stakeholders and cooperating partners of the suspension of the ZCTU Secretary General Tirivanhu Marimo over acts of misconduct. Marimo is suspended and relieved of all official duties on behalf of ZCTU,” Taruvinga said.
The statement did not specify the nature of the alleged misconduct but announced that Kudakwashe Munengiwa had assumed the role of Acting Secretary General.
“Meanwhile, the acting Secretary General is Kudakwashe Munengiwa,” the statement reads.
The federation also directed all affiliates, stakeholders and cooperating partners to channel official communication through the ZCTU’s official email address.
The latest development comes days after Marimo publicly warned of what he described as attempts to interfere with the federation’s constitutional processes ahead of its Regional, Youth and Women’s conferences ahead of the 10th main elective General Congress to be held later this year.
In that statement, he alleged that certain individuals were seeking to use State institutions and legal processes to influence the organisation’s leadership and constitutional affairs.
Responding to his suspension, Marimo rejected the decision, insisting that those behind it lacked the constitutional authority to remove him from office.
“It’s a non-event because they do not have that power. We knew it and hence the reason why I issued a press statement,” said Marimo.
He said his earlier statement was not prompted by the suspension announcement itself, but by information the federation had allegedly gathered before the meeting that resolved to suspend him.
“It’s not about the press statement because the meeting had already been scheduled and we then gathered information that they have an ulterior motive to use it to suspend the Secretary General,” he said.
Marimo further claimed that the individuals he had referred to in his earlier statement without naming them had now been identified.
“Now the names of the people behind which I could not mention before are now known by the workers and citizens of Zimbabwe,” he said.
The suspension marks the latest twist in an escalating leadership dispute within Zimbabwe’s largest labour federation as it prepares for a series of constitutional conferences scheduled between July and October.
While the ZCTU leadership says the suspension is based on alleged misconduct, Marimo maintains that the decision forms part of the alleged interference in the federation’s constitutional processes that he warned about earlier this week.
The suspension has degenerated into an exchange of bitter words from members who came out guns blazing against the suspension on various ZCTU social media handles.
“Cde Tiri Marimo cannot be suspended by unelected officials who corruptly assumed office. We hope stakeholders take note that Tiri remains in charge. The Workers recognize Tiri as a popularly elected SG. Florence and her ZANU PF mafia can go hang!” said Obert Masaraure, President of Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, an affiliate of ZCTU.
Another member also chided that “The SG cannot be suspended by 7 people! Maiwanepi mandate iyoyo, Miswa Furo!”
A few members from the President’s faction defended her, saying the suspension was justified.
“An act of misconduct is an act of misconduct, and therefore the SG should be suspended,” said a member.
However, the majority of members were against the suspension, labeling it unconstitutional.
“It’s unfortunate we have a Shallow President who’s so foolish to that extent. ZCTU is a clear organization governed by a clear constitution… u cannot run it like a tuck shop, added another member on the ZCTU Facebook page.
