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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Zimbabwe general strike flops, Tsvangirai warms on run-off |
| 2008-04-16 |
| The Zimbabwe opposition's campaign to force the release of results from last month's presidential election suffered a fresh blow on Tuesday when a call for a general strike went largely unheeded. Despite the stay-away call by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), most shops and services were open for business as usual and an initial heavy security presence was eased as it became apparent the job boycott had flopped. The MDC had called for workers to stay at home indefinitely after the high court on Monday rejected its petition calling on the electoral commission to immediately declare the outcome of the March 29 poll. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai claims he beat 84-year-old President Robert Mugabe outright, but the ruling party says neither man won a clear victory and insists a run-off will be needed. Tsvangirai, who had previously ruled out his participation in a second ballot, rowed back from that position on Tuesday and indicated he would be prepared to compete if international observers oversee the polls. In an interview with South Africa's private e.tv channel, Tsvangirai accused Mugabe's ruling party of trying to lay the groundwork for a run-off that would be fixed in his favour. "I can tell you honestly that we will not be part of that unless a new electoral environment is assured with the participation of SADC, participation of the international community," said the 56-year-old opposition leader. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 We wuz on strike? No shit. |
| Posted by: Farmin B. Hard 2008-04-16 17:00 |
| #1 Hard to call a strike when nobody has a job. |
| Posted by: Spot 2008-04-16 06:47 |