Opposition's call for strike fizzles in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Opposition attempts to stage a nationwide strike to demand the release of election results largely fizzled Tuesday as many of the few Zimbabweans with jobs reported to work in this economically ravaged nation.

The failure underscored the difficulty opposition leaders have had harnessing anger against President Robert Mugabe's regime to try to force the release of the official vote count from the March 29 presidential ballot.

"We have done this before and nothing has changed," said an engineer who gave his name only as Mudiwa. "Speaking for myself, my family comes first. I have to feed my family. The opposition won't bring bread in my house."

Four of every five workers are estimated to be jobless amid an economic collapse blamed on Mugabe's order to seize white-owned commercial farms beginning in 2000, a move that devastated an industry that once produced enough to feed Zimbabwe and export to its neighbors.

Some workers said they were not even aware of the strike call, a fact the opposition blamed on the government's media monopoly. The strike had little effect in Harare's factory districts, since many plants already had closed because of acute shortages of fuel and raw materials.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai insists he won the presidential election and has accused Mugabe of withholding the results to extend his 28-year grip on power. Independent monitors say their tallies show Tsvangirai got the most votes, but not enough to avoid a runoff.

Tsvangirai has said he would not accept a runoff. But his spokesman said Tuesday that he might participate if a tally verified by both parties and regional monitors showed one was needed -- and if the international community administered the new election.

"The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission clearly has no capacity to run any credible election," said George Sibotshiwe of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, the biggest opposition party.

Government spokesman Bright Matonga said an internationally run election would be unconstitutional and an affront to Zimbabweans. "We don't need outsiders. We can do it ourselves," he said.

The High Court rejected an opposition petition Monday calling for the immediate release of the results, and opposition officials then called for Zimbabweans to stay home Tuesday in a show of solidarity to pressure the government.

With political rallies banned, soldiers with assault rifles and police in riot gear fanned out across Harare and its suburbs Tuesday morning. The government said they were sent to prevent violence and looting.

Traffic moved through the capital as usual, and banks and stores were open. Commuters reported fewer privately run minibuses on the road, suggesting some transport workers honored the strike. Some shops reported they were missing staff and others closed early.

Pedzai Lwindi, a Harare shop owner, said four of her 12 workers did not show up.

"I don't know whether it's the 'stay away' or the usual transport difficulties," she said, referring to the nearly doubling of bus fares over the last month because of soaring gasoline prices.

Strike calls generally have been widely ignored by impoverished workers unable to sacrifice even a day's wage in a country with skyrocketing inflation.

"Stay-aways won't bring the results," said Gladys Mhloro, 22, a secretary. "This government is determined to keep everything under wraps. They have the army and police. What can the people do?"

Farai Chikanya, a house painter, said he had little choice but to go to work in the western township of Glen View, where police cleared makeshift barricades of rocks and wood thrown onto the streets by opposition supporters. A bus was burned nearby.

"I have to finish the job I am working on. I need the money," Chikanya said.

One man who did honor the strike, carpenter Celestine Chibaya, 44, said he didn't care about the loss of income, he just wanted the ballot results released.

"We have tried our best, we have lost all patience," he said.

Government radio, meanwhile, played songs encouraging attacks on perceived opponents. One included the lyrics "Give me my spear so that I can kill the many sellouts in my forefathers' country," according to the Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe.