ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe's trade union movement called a three-day general strike yesterday as Africa's two most powerful leaders scrambled to solve the escalating political crisis and avert economic implosion.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) called on workers to stay at home between tomorrow and Friday. The secretary general, Mr Wellington Chibebe, said the move was in protest at the "harassment, beatings and displacement workers are experiencing in the aftermath of the presidential elections".
However, it was unclear last night whether President Mugabe would authorise the strike. Under draconian new laws he can imprison illegal strikers for up to 20 years.
The announcement, which raised the political temperature significantly, came as President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria were leaving Harare.
The two African leaders had spent the day trying to persuade Mr Mugabe and his bitter rival, opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, to put aside their differences in the name of saving the country from famine and economic ruin.
"The situation is critical," Mr Obasanjo said. "Whatever Zimbabweans have done, whether they have voted or not, they need to eat. They need international assistance."
The Nigerian president said he had urged the two enemies to "put their arms together and work together for this country," an apparent reference to a government of national unity, an idea already spurned by both sides.
Mr Tsvangirai and several western countries have rejected the poll result as illegitimate due to widespread irregularities and apparent fraud in favour of Mr Mugabe. Mr Mbeki added that proposals had been put to both sides and a response was expected "within days".
The two leaders later flew on to London, where they are due to meet the Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, today to decide whether the Commonwealth should punish Mr Mugabe.
The Commonwealth is split, largely along racial lines, over Zimbabwe. Both Mr Mbeki and Mr Obasanjo are anxious to prevent it from tearing itself apart over the issue. As the main sponsors of the New Partnership for African Development (NePAD), they are also anxious to promote the credibility of Africa's leaders. The initiative proposes to trade good governance for access to Western aid, debt relief and markets but risks being scuppered if Zimbabwe slides further into chaos.