Zimbabwe activists win reprieve

There has been a heavy police presence in the cities

A Zimbabwe court has released 52 activists and union leaders, two days after their arrest for demonstrating against President Robert Mugabe.

Among those freed were the head of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Lovemore Matombo.

However there is no word on more than 30 others who were detained on Tuesday.

The ZCTU called a two-day strike to demand the detainees' release, but there has again been a poor response, with most shops and offices open.

Facing jail

Almost 90 people - including trade union leaders and human rights activists - were arrested in various parts of Zimbabwe during Tuesday's protests.

E-mail arrests

State attorneys said they had insufficent evidence to press charges under the country's strict security laws against the 52 activists.

The BBC's Themba Nkosi in Bulawayo - the country's second city - says the failure of the strike illustrates the trouble critics of Mr Mugabe have in reaching the general public.

The government controls all radio and TV stations and has shut the only privately-owned daily newspaper.

Our correspondent also says people do not seem ready to confront the full force of the government.

Under tough security laws, the police must give permission for all demonstrations and protests by groups not allied to the ruling Zanu-PF party are rarely authorised.

Bans

The unrest comes amid growing economic hardship in Zimbabwe - for which unions blames the government.

Murerwa insists Zimbabwe's troubles can be overcome

Unemployment stands at 70% and inflation is running at 526%.

During his annual budget on Thursday, Mr Murerwa gave a bleak assessment of the country's economic prospects.

He said the economy would shrink by another 13.2% this year, while inflation would reach 700%.

However, he added that Zimbabwe's challenges were "surmountable".

President Robert Mugabe's opponents accuse him of economic mismanagement, and blame the country's woes partly on the seizures of white-owned farms.

Mr Mugabe says his land reforms are designed to redress an injustice of British colonial rule, and accuses opponents at home and abroad of sabotaging the economy.