By Staff Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has elected Tirivanhu Marimo as its new Secretary General, following the retirement of Japhet Moyo, at an Extra Ordinary Congress convened on Saturday. 

Marimo secured 55 votes against Michael Kandukutu’s 38.

In his acceptance speech, Marimo vowed to safeguard ZCTU’s independence from political interference and to strengthen the voice of affiliate unions. 

“Our movement grows stronger not in the absence of competition, but in the presence of unity after competition. As Secretary General, I pledge to safeguard the independence and integrity of the ZCTU, strengthen the voice of every affiliate union and ensure that no worker feels excluded from our collective shield,” he said. 

He appealed for solidarity across the workforce, warning that restoring the ZCTU to its former strength would be a challenging task. 

Marimo who hails from the Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers’ Union is the past chairperson of the ZCTU National Young Workers’ Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of South Africa and a Master’s in Human Rights Litigation from the University of the Witwatersrand.