The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has strongly opposed the ruling ZANU-PF party’s reported proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office from 2028 to 2030, describing it as an assault on democracy and the Constitution.
In a statement dated October 21, 2025, the country’s largest labour body said it was “deeply disgusted” by the alleged resolution, which was reportedly passed at the ruling party’s annual conference.
“The 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, values for which many Zimbabweans have struggled and sacrificed,” the statement reads.
The union warned that such actions would plunge the nation into instability and erode investor confidence. “It is not in the interest of ordinary workers or citizens for the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, to be mutilated to serve selfish individual ambitions.
Such actions risk plunging the nation into political instability and chaos, eroding confidence in governance systems and undermining production, investment, economic growth and job creation,” the ZCTU said.
The organisation also dismissed claims that there was no leadership alternative, asserting that Zimbabwe has capable citizens who can take over the presidency when the time comes.
“We believe that we have enough and capable personnel to take over the presidency of the country both from the ruling party ZANU PF and the opposition come 2028. No one is irreplaceable or immortal and we should avoid creating idols and demigods in the country,” the union stated.
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Drawing comparisons to regional examples, the ZCTU cautioned against following the path of leaders who overstayed in power.
“Zimbabwe must not be allowed to join the leagues of Uganda, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Chad and the Republic of Congo, whose dictators’ insatiable clout for power has seen them tampering with their Constitutions to enable continued rule by infamous leaders,” it warned.
ZCTU Secretary General Trivanhu Marimo said the union will engage its members and civic partners to determine appropriate action in defence of the Constitution.
“Accordingly, the ZCTU will embark on broad consultations with workers, affiliated unions, and like-minded civic organisations to determine the appropriate form of collective action in defence of the Constitution,” Marimo said.
He added that the union was prepared to take to the streets if necessary.
“We are not short of solutions to defend the democratic turf and we are prepared to flood the streets if ZANU-PF remains stubborn on the dishonourable 2030 agenda,” Marimo declared.
Reaffirming the union’s stance, Marimo concluded, “As a matter of principle, the ZCTU will always stand on the side of democracy, constitutionalism, and the people of Zimbabwe.
The Constitution must remain the unshakeable framework guiding our nation’s governance, not a tool of political convenience.”
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