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AFP. 20 March 2002. Zimbabwe: strike call largely ignored in Harare. HARARE, March 20 (AFP) - A general strike called by Zimbabwe's powerful trade unions after President Robert Mugabe's re-election was largely ignored Wednesday in the capital Harare. Most people reported for work on the first day of the three-day stayaway and shops, companies, banks and restaurants opened as usual. A few delayed opening, fearing violence, but later operated normally. In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second largest city, many shops and most banks were initially closed, but by midday most had opened. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said it was calling the strike to oppose Mugabe's government. The strike call came on the heels of last week's hotly contested election which returned longtime ruler Mugabe to power, defeating former union boss Morgan Tsvangirai. The former trade union leader has refused to recognize Mugabe's re-election, charging "massive fraud." While the ZCTU's strike call did not link the action directly to the election, the move was seen as reflecting a broad-based demonstration of displeasure over Mugabe's tainted victory. Union members form the core of support for Tsvangirai, who led the ZCTU before leaving to found the MDC in September 1999. But workers said current economic hardships and food shortages were more pressing than the political crisis. "If it was a strike for more money, people would have heeded it," said one, Henry Virima. "But now it's all political. The elections are over, and now people want to build the nation and carry on to improve their life." Organisers admitted the work stoppage, called Monday, had largely failed on the first day in Harare, but said it had received better responses in other cities such as Bulawayo and Mutare. "The stayaway is still going ahead, even though today there isn't an encouraging response," a ZCTU spokesman told AFP. But in the face of a severe economic crisis that finds some 70 percent of the work force unemployed, people seemed more worried about holding on to their jobs. "We don't want to swell the ranks of the unemployed," said Peter Mubaiwa. "The problem here is that many companies are closing down and there's many people with no jobs. ... I'd rather concentrate on economic issues than on political issues. I have to take care of my family." As dawn broke Wednesday, traffic was normal coming in from the suburbs and the twin city of Chitungwiza, with commuter minibuses packed as usual. Some workers were commuting by bicycle, while many others unable to afford the minibus fare were walking. In Harare, the sprawling market in the working-class suburb of Mbare was teeming and schoolchildren were seen heading to school. Another familiar sight was that of hundreds of people queueing up for food at various shopping centres across the city. Dairibord Zimbabwe, one of the country's largest companies, was open, with long queues of people waiting to buy milk, a commodity that has become scarce. Nearly 400 people were waiting in line outside a supermarket in Harare, while in the industrial areas people were queueing for maize meal, the main food staple, outside food depots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
