Zimbabwe Labour Movement Mobilizes Against Constitutional Amendment as Regional Governance Concerns Mount
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has launched nationwide consultations on a constitutional amendment that would extend presidential terms from five to seven years, as governance challenges ripple across Southern Africa.
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Zimbabwe's largest labour federation has begun mobilizing workers and civil society groups against a constitutional amendment that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term limit, marking the latest governance challenge facing Southern African nations as regional political stability comes under increasing scrutiny.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) announced this week it has initiated nationwide consultations following the government's gazettal of Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill, which proposes extending presidential terms from five to seven years. The amendment triggers a mandatory 90-day public consultation period, during which citizens can submit input on the proposed changes.
According to New Zimbabwe, the ZCTU's consultations represent a direct challenge to the ruling ZANU-PF party's efforts to alter the constitutional framework established in 2013. The amendment has sparked concerns among opposition parties and civil society organizations that it represents an attempt to entrench executive power beyond existing constitutional safeguards.
Regional Governance Under Pressure
The constitutional controversy in Zimbabwe emerges as neighbouring South Africa grapples with its own governance challenges. In KwaZulu-Natal province, Premier Thami Ntuli faces another motion of no confidence, according to the National Freedom Party (NFP), raising concerns about political stability in South Africa's second-most populous province.
Political analysts have warned that the repeated confidence votes against Ntuli signal deeper fractures within the province's coalition government. The Citizen reported that these developments have prompted warnings of "possible political instability in KwaZulu-Natal," a province that plays a crucial economic role in South Africa's industrial and port infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the City of Ekurhuleni's governing coalition is unraveling months before South Africa's local government elections, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) announcing its withdrawal from the coalition with the African National Congress (ANC). The Citizen confirmed the EFF's departure from the Ekurhuleni arrangement, which represents one of several coalition governments formed after the ANC lost its outright majorities in key metropolitan areas.
Constitutional Amendments and Democratic Safeguards
The proposed term extension in Zimbabwe has drawn comparisons to similar constitutional maneuvers across the continent, where leaders have sought to extend their tenure through legislative amendments. Zimbabwe's 2013 constitution, adopted following a referendum, established a two-term limit for presidents serving five-year terms each, representing a significant democratic reform after decades of Robert Mugabe's rule.
President Mnangagwa, who assumed power in 2017 following a military-assisted transition and won contested elections in 2018 and 2023, would be affected by these term limits. The proposed amendment would reset the constitutional clock, potentially allowing him to serve beyond 2028 when his current term expires.
The ZCTU, which has historically played a significant role in Zimbabwe's political landscape and was instrumental in forming the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in 1999, brings substantial organizing capacity to the consultation process. The federation represents workers across multiple sectors and has maintained its position as a critical voice on governance and economic policy issues.
Coalition Politics and Electoral Implications
South Africa's coalition dynamics reflect broader shifts in the country's political landscape following the 2021 local government elections, when the ANC secured less than 50% of the national vote for the first time since democracy began in 1994. The party's subsequent losses in the 2024 general elections have forced it into coalition arrangements at national, provincial, and municipal levels.
The collapse of the Ekurhuleni coalition and instability in KwaZulu-Natal demonstrate the fragility of these multi-party arrangements. Ekurhuleni, part of the Gauteng province that includes Johannesburg and Pretoria, serves as a critical economic hub with significant industrial and logistics infrastructure.
The NFP's announcement of another no-confidence motion against Premier Ntuli suggests ongoing disagreements within KwaZulu-Natal's Government of Provincial Unity, which was formed after the 2024 elections brought together the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party, and other smaller parties.
Regional Implications
These governance challenges across Southern Africa occur as the region faces economic headwinds, including currency volatility, energy constraints, and infrastructure deficits. The Southern African Development Community (SADC), which includes both Zimbabwe and South Africa as key members, has historically promoted democratic governance and constitutional order among member states.
The 90-day consultation period on Zimbabwe's constitutional amendment will test the government's commitment to genuine public participation. Civil society organizations, opposition parties, and labour movements are expected to submit detailed objections during this period, though the ruling ZANU-PF party holds a parliamentary supermajority sufficient to pass constitutional amendments without opposition support.
As South Africa prepares for local government elections later this year, the stability of existing coalition arrangements will likely influence voter confidence in multi-party governance models. The outcomes in both countries will provide important indicators for democratic consolidation and constitutional governance across the Southern African region.