ZCTU begins consultations over Mnangagwa’s term extension bid
THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it has begun nationwide consultations over the recently gazetted Constitutional Amendment Bill, which will extend the president’s term to seven years from the current five. The government has since gazetted the draft Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill which mandates a 90-day-long public consultation period, during which citizens […] The post ZCTU begins consultations over Mnangagwa’s term extension bid appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.
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THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it has begun nationwide consultations over the recently gazetted Constitutional Amendment Bill, which will extend the president’s term to seven years from the current five.
The government has since gazetted the draft Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill which mandates a 90-day-long public consultation period, during which citizens and stakeholders are expected to debate the proposed reforms before the legislation is tabled in Parliament.
Speaking to labour stakeholders this week, ZCTU Secretary General Tirivanhu Marimo said a hybrid of strategies are already being explored to block the bid.
“We will be engaging fully into this issue through public consultations around the Social Contract. There is already a discussion on the matter at the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF). Let’s bear in mind that the Constitution of Zimbabwe alone is a social contract in its own right, adopted through a popular process. It cannot be reduced to an instrument of political survival,” he said.
He said ZCTU is implementing various strategies to deal with the problem and would be willing to join hands with like-minded forces who are fighting against the agenda.
“The labour movement is not captured anymore. I am there. I know myself and I will say for certainty that workers are steadfast, especially now. Democracy cannot be negotiable,” he said.
The ZCTU leader said developments which have unfolded in Harare since last week confirmed a ‘deliberate and systematic attempt to erode constitutional democracy’ through legislative manipulation.
“Any bill seeking to tamper with entrenched democratic safeguards strikes at the heart of national stability, economic confidence, and even the rule of law. It’s unfortunate that this is happening at a time when Zimbabwe faces profound economic hardships, unemployment, and informality and deteriorating public services,” he said.
Marimo underscored that instead of focusing on power retention strategies, the government must direct efforts towards improving citizens’ standards of living.
“We need to come up with a response to this nonsense. It’s a power grab kind of exercise designed to suffocate democracy, silence the people and entrench personal rule at the expense of the suffering nation,” he added.
The post ZCTU begins consultations over Mnangagwa’s term extension bid appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.
