General strike in Zimbabwe?

Guardian:

Zimbabwe's opposition has called an indefinite general strike from today after the high court rejected its attempt to force the immediate release of the results of the presidential election held 17 days ago.

The strike is a crucial test of the Movement for Democratic Change's ability to mobilise popular protest against what it says is President Robert Mugabe's refusal to accept defeat. Some party leaders believe a strike is now the only effective way of pressuring the government.

The MDC said the high court accepted the state-run election commission's explanation that the results were being withheld because it was investigating alleged irregularities. "It's a very sad day in Zimbabwe," said the party's lawyer, Andrew Makoni. "[The court] has given the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) a blank cheque. We don't know when the ZEC will be ready with results. We don't know what specific time would be reasonable in the eyes of the court."

But the MDC intends to go back to court to try to block the state-run election commission's plan to recount votes for the presidential and parliamentary ballots in 23 constituencies. The recounts could see the opposition's newly-won majority in parliament overturned and its presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, lose what he claims is a clear victory over Mugabe.

The MDC's vice president, Thokhozani Khupe, yesterday called for people to join the general strike and stay at home.

"We are calling on the public to speak against ZEC for failing to release the results," she said.

The strike is the first mass action by the MDC since the election and it is unclear whether the party can mobilise support.

Unemployment is running at about 80% so most people do not have formal jobs to stay away from and those that do desperately need the money. Previous general strikes have been a failure.

...

It is clear that Mugabe's policies have put 80 percent on general strike already. I am not sure it would be noticed if the other 20 percent did not show up. What a sad excuse for a country.

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