BBC news article on Zim
Zimbabwe strike 'poorly observed'
It was not the mass stay-away union leaders had wanted
A two-day strike called by Zimbabwe's trade unions in protest against the country's worsening economic crisis has been poorly observed on its first day.
The capital was slightly quieter than usual, but many shops and offices were open in the capital, Harare.
Correspondents say few people can afford to lose even a day's pay.
President Robert Mugabe had condemned the stoppage as part of a plot by the opposition to oust him and promised tough action against any open protests.
More than 80% of Zimbabweans live in poverty and inflation is running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.
The BBC's Peter Greste says with inflation so high and four out of five workers without a job, there is plenty to complain about, but opponents of President Mugabe are both broke and scared.
Images of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who was savagely beaten the last time anyone tried to mount a protest, are still fresh in the minds of many Zimbabweans, our correspondent adds.
In anticipation of the strike, military helicopters were deployed over Harare on Tuesday while riot police patrolled the city centre.Zimbabwe's main trade union, the Congress of Trades Unions (ZCTU), said that given the level of intimidation the stoppage had been a success.
However, the government described the first day of the general strike as a flop.
"It was a dismal failure, not just a failure but a dismal failure... because people are going about their work freely as if there was no call for a stay-away," said Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.
Zimbabwe's trade union movement said it called the general strike over the government's failure to respond to the economic meltdown and was pushing for wage rises.
"This ... is the only solution to make sure that the authorities should come back to the negotiating table," ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo said. "We are quite aware of what the government is likely to do."
A clothing factory worker in Harare told Reuters news agency that workers feared losing their jobs if they went on strike.
"I understand what the ZCTU is trying to do for us ... but things are so hard I cannot afford to lose this job, and although I get very little, I cannot afford to get nothing at all," Dickson Mapara said.
Meanwhile, South African President Thabo Mbeki says he wants to promote a compromise between rival factions in Zimbabwe but would not push for regime change.
Mr Mbeki said he would not cut power supplies to Zimbabwe
Mr Mbeki told the UK's Financial Times that there was no big stick available to change the government in Harare but there was a need to tackle Zimbabwe's elections.
"We have to get the Zimbabweans talking so we do have elections that are free and fair," he said.
Southern African leaders last week appointed Mr Mbeki to mediate between Mr Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
On Saturday, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said nine members of his party had been badly beaten up in custody after being arrested.
Last week, Zanu-PF announced that Mr Mugabe would be its candidate in next year's election, letting the president stay in power until 2013, when he would be nearly 90.
It was not the mass stay-away union leaders had wanted
A two-day strike called by Zimbabwe's trade unions in protest against the country's worsening economic crisis has been poorly observed on its first day.
The capital was slightly quieter than usual, but many shops and offices were open in the capital, Harare.
Correspondents say few people can afford to lose even a day's pay.
President Robert Mugabe had condemned the stoppage as part of a plot by the opposition to oust him and promised tough action against any open protests.
More than 80% of Zimbabweans live in poverty and inflation is running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.
The BBC's Peter Greste says with inflation so high and four out of five workers without a job, there is plenty to complain about, but opponents of President Mugabe are both broke and scared.
Images of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who was savagely beaten the last time anyone tried to mount a protest, are still fresh in the minds of many Zimbabweans, our correspondent adds.
In anticipation of the strike, military helicopters were deployed over Harare on Tuesday while riot police patrolled the city centre.Zimbabwe's main trade union, the Congress of Trades Unions (ZCTU), said that given the level of intimidation the stoppage had been a success.
However, the government described the first day of the general strike as a flop.
"It was a dismal failure, not just a failure but a dismal failure... because people are going about their work freely as if there was no call for a stay-away," said Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.
Zimbabwe's trade union movement said it called the general strike over the government's failure to respond to the economic meltdown and was pushing for wage rises.
"This ... is the only solution to make sure that the authorities should come back to the negotiating table," ZCTU president Lovemore Matombo said. "We are quite aware of what the government is likely to do."
A clothing factory worker in Harare told Reuters news agency that workers feared losing their jobs if they went on strike.
"I understand what the ZCTU is trying to do for us ... but things are so hard I cannot afford to lose this job, and although I get very little, I cannot afford to get nothing at all," Dickson Mapara said.
Meanwhile, South African President Thabo Mbeki says he wants to promote a compromise between rival factions in Zimbabwe but would not push for regime change.
Mr Mbeki said he would not cut power supplies to Zimbabwe
Mr Mbeki told the UK's Financial Times that there was no big stick available to change the government in Harare but there was a need to tackle Zimbabwe's elections.
"We have to get the Zimbabweans talking so we do have elections that are free and fair," he said.
Southern African leaders last week appointed Mr Mbeki to mediate between Mr Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
On Saturday, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said nine members of his party had been badly beaten up in custody after being arrested.
Last week, Zanu-PF announced that Mr Mugabe would be its candidate in next year's election, letting the president stay in power until 2013, when he would be nearly 90.
BBC News article on Zim
Q&A: Zimbabwe meltdown
President Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on the west
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been in hospital since he was beaten up whilst in police custody after trying to address a rally.
After 27 years in power and despite an economic meltdown, President Robert Mugabe say he wants to contest elections due next year.
What is life like in Zimbabwe?
Pretty terrible for most people. Many factories and other employers have closed as the economy has gone from bad to worse.
Most of the population is trying to feed itself by growing food but the rains have not been good and hundreds of thousands are going hungry.
Prices are rising by the day. Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate is 1,700% - the highest in the world.
Basic items such as bread, sugar, petrol are often not available in local shops.
What prompted the crisis?
Just about the only thing that all sides agree on in Zimbabwe is that land is at the heart of the problems.
The opposition says that Mr Mugabe's seizure of most white-owned farms since 2000 has wrecked what was once one of Africa's most developed economies.
Mr Mugabe says the redistribution was needed to make land ownership more equitable following the colonial era.
He says that western powers have sabotaged Zimbabwe's economy because they want to drive him from power.
So is Mr Mugabe in trouble?
Some say it could be the beginning of the end - but that has been said many times in recent years.
Mr Tsvangirai has been arrested several times
It is possible that Mr Mugabe's position has been weakened by his bid to stay on - those in his Zanu-PF party who wish to succeed him may be getting impatient.
His original plan was to change the constitution to postpone elections until 2010 but this idea was last December blocked by his party - a rare event.
Equally, some say the collapse in living standards is now affecting the soldiers and police officers who have been the bedrock of his support.
If they refused to carry out orders to fire at protesters, the fear factor would be removed, boosting the opposition campaign against him.
But Zimbabwe's economy has been in decline for several years - it is difficult to predict when the tipping point will come.
What about the opposition?
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change was formed in 1999 to oust Mr Mugabe but has so far failed to achieve that goal.
They complain that elections have been rigged and their activists beaten and even killed but from a political point of view, Mr Mugabe seems to have outsmarted them so far.
Two years ago, it split into two factions, making Mr Mugabe's life much easier.
The two factions have recently showed signs of coming together.
That could be why the police took such tough action to break up the rally and arrest Mr Tsvangirai and several of his colleagues.
What is the international community doing?
Following disputed elections, the US and the EU imposed targeted sanctions on Mr Mugabe and his close associates - they are banned from travelling and any assets they hold have been seized.
But African countries have been reluctant to openly criticise Mr Mugabe, who is widely respected as a hero of the fight against colonial rule.
Despite strong pressure, Zimbabwe's big neighbour, South Africa, has been reluctant to get involved, instead pursuing a policy they call "quiet diplomacy".
However, the government is understood to be particularly alarmed at plans to delay elections until 2010 - as this would coincide with South Africa's hosting of the World Cup.
Mr Mugabe has also moved closer to China, which is happy to continue business ties without lecturing about human rights and democracy.
Would Mugabe agree to step down?
He would have little choice if the Zanu-PF leadership united to tell him it would be better if he left - the party is not a one-man show.
But he may be worried about a possible prosecution if he was no longer head of state.
Mr Tsvangirai has repeatedly promised that Mr Mugabe would enjoy an "honourable exit" as the founding father of Zimbabwe.
But some of those who have suffered at the hands of his security agents would no doubt be tempted to take him to court.
One option may be for him to got to exile in Angola or Namibia, which have always remained his close allies.
President Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on the west
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been in hospital since he was beaten up whilst in police custody after trying to address a rally.
After 27 years in power and despite an economic meltdown, President Robert Mugabe say he wants to contest elections due next year.
What is life like in Zimbabwe?
Pretty terrible for most people. Many factories and other employers have closed as the economy has gone from bad to worse.
Most of the population is trying to feed itself by growing food but the rains have not been good and hundreds of thousands are going hungry.
Prices are rising by the day. Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate is 1,700% - the highest in the world.
Basic items such as bread, sugar, petrol are often not available in local shops.
What prompted the crisis?
Just about the only thing that all sides agree on in Zimbabwe is that land is at the heart of the problems.
The opposition says that Mr Mugabe's seizure of most white-owned farms since 2000 has wrecked what was once one of Africa's most developed economies.
Mr Mugabe says the redistribution was needed to make land ownership more equitable following the colonial era.
He says that western powers have sabotaged Zimbabwe's economy because they want to drive him from power.
So is Mr Mugabe in trouble?
Some say it could be the beginning of the end - but that has been said many times in recent years.
Mr Tsvangirai has been arrested several times
It is possible that Mr Mugabe's position has been weakened by his bid to stay on - those in his Zanu-PF party who wish to succeed him may be getting impatient.
His original plan was to change the constitution to postpone elections until 2010 but this idea was last December blocked by his party - a rare event.
Equally, some say the collapse in living standards is now affecting the soldiers and police officers who have been the bedrock of his support.
If they refused to carry out orders to fire at protesters, the fear factor would be removed, boosting the opposition campaign against him.
But Zimbabwe's economy has been in decline for several years - it is difficult to predict when the tipping point will come.
What about the opposition?
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change was formed in 1999 to oust Mr Mugabe but has so far failed to achieve that goal.
They complain that elections have been rigged and their activists beaten and even killed but from a political point of view, Mr Mugabe seems to have outsmarted them so far.
Two years ago, it split into two factions, making Mr Mugabe's life much easier.
The two factions have recently showed signs of coming together.
That could be why the police took such tough action to break up the rally and arrest Mr Tsvangirai and several of his colleagues.
What is the international community doing?
Following disputed elections, the US and the EU imposed targeted sanctions on Mr Mugabe and his close associates - they are banned from travelling and any assets they hold have been seized.
But African countries have been reluctant to openly criticise Mr Mugabe, who is widely respected as a hero of the fight against colonial rule.
Despite strong pressure, Zimbabwe's big neighbour, South Africa, has been reluctant to get involved, instead pursuing a policy they call "quiet diplomacy".
However, the government is understood to be particularly alarmed at plans to delay elections until 2010 - as this would coincide with South Africa's hosting of the World Cup.
Mr Mugabe has also moved closer to China, which is happy to continue business ties without lecturing about human rights and democracy.
Would Mugabe agree to step down?
He would have little choice if the Zanu-PF leadership united to tell him it would be better if he left - the party is not a one-man show.
But he may be worried about a possible prosecution if he was no longer head of state.
Mr Tsvangirai has repeatedly promised that Mr Mugabe would enjoy an "honourable exit" as the founding father of Zimbabwe.
But some of those who have suffered at the hands of his security agents would no doubt be tempted to take him to court.
One option may be for him to got to exile in Angola or Namibia, which have always remained his close allies.
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