MDC calls general strike in Zimbabwe
Tuesday, 15 Apr 2008 07:46
Morgan Tsvangirai wants a general strike in Zimbabwe
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Zimbabwe's main opposition party want a general strike to pressure the country's election commission into releasing results of the March 29th poll.
Yesterday Justice Tendai Uchena rejected a petition by lawyers representing the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) filed a week previously.
Opponents to incumbent president Robert Mugabe say the government has lost the election, which also saw voters choosing their representatives for the country's senate, parliament and local councils on March 29th.
They claim Mr Mugabe is seeking to cling on to power by denying MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai the outright majority he needs to avoid a second round.
Mr Tsvangirai's party are now challenging the court's ruling to prevent the immediate release of the results through a general strike, which – despite Zimbabwe's high unemployment rate – could have a major political impact.
Police have deployed in force throughout the country, however, with the Reuters news agency reporting many army trucks containing water cannons in the streets of the capital Harare.
Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said the MDC faction were "agitating for violence" and analysts warn many will stay at home as a result, undermining the MDC's efforts.
The latest developments come after Zimbabwe's election commission, which had challenged the petition after suggesting the judge did not have jurisdiction over the case, ordered recounts in 23 constituencies on Sunday.
Election results have been published at polling stations for days and the MDC, having counted them, claims to have won control of Zimbabwe's parliament.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party believes otherwise and analysts say it hopes to maintain its dominance in the country's parliament as well.