Strike paralyses Harare

Opposition support is strong in the cities

Business in Zimbabwe's capital has ground to a halt after workers began a general strike in protest at what unions see as a collapse of law and order.

Early reports say the usual morning rush hour in Harare and other towns and cities failed to take place, and commercial farms also seemed to be observing the strike. Most shops and factories also remained closed.

The one-day stoppage was called by the powerful Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions following months of escalating violence ahead of the recent elections, and continued occupations of white-owned farms by supporters of President Robert Mugabe.

The stoppage has won the backing of white commecial farmers and the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The government has condemned the action as illegal and has warned that it intends to step up its controversial land resettlement programme.

Dissatisfaction

Correspondents expect the strike to be strongest in cities and towns, where recent election results suggest profound dissatisfaction with President Mugabe's government.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is a former unionist

But what was planned as a three-day strike was reduced at the last minute to a one-day action.

A union official said the leadership had resolved to limit the stoppage to Wednesday to give the government a chance to respond.

"If the government does not respond, we will go on a much longer strike," said acting ZCTU Secretary-General Nicholas Mudzengerere.

Intimidation

The unions called the strike because they say the government is refusing to stop intimidation and attacks on farmers and labourers by the self-styled war veterans who are occupying hundreds of white-owned farms.

Some war veterans are refusing government orders to quit the farms they occupied, and the situation has been described by the Commercial Farmers' Union, which represents white farmers, as close to "total anarchy".

Vice-President Joseph Msika has confirmed that the land resettlement programme will be expanded to take in 3,000 white-owned farms, about 75% of the total.

The army will be used to provide logistical support.

Our correspodent says, however, that Zimbabwe does not have the financial resources to carry out such an ambitious programme which would, in any event, lead to complete economic collapse.

Devaluation

The government has already announced the devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar in what it said was a short-term measure to arrest the current economic decline.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Dr Simba Makoni said the exchange rate had been depreciated from the current level of 38 to 50 Zimbabwe dollars to the US dollar.

Dr Makoni told the press the devaluation would ensure that the exchange rate promoted export competitiveness and economic growth.

The business community had described the old rate as unsustainable.