Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe defended the eviction of tens of thousands of informal traders and shack dwellers from city streets as a clean-up drive, and a two-day strike against the campaign got off to a slow start.

A two-day general strike got off to a slow start today with most Zimbabweans seemingly heeding police warnings not to participate in the protest against the forced removal of tens of thousands of informal traders and shack dwellers from city streets.

A two-day general strike called to protest a government crackdown on the urban poor began slowly today with a heavy police presence on the streets of Harare.

The government has effectively banned affiliates of Zimbabwe’s main union federation from visiting the country, trade unionists said after two more South African labour leaders were deported.

Zimbabwe turned back a fact-finding delegation from South Africa’s main union group after it landed at the capital’s airport today.

At least 10 leaders of Zimbabwe’s main union federation were arrested today ahead of planned street protests that authorities vowed to stop.

The president and general-secretary of Zimbabwe’s largest trade union were arrested along with 51 supporters today as they marched through the capital Harare in protest at rising prices and high taxes.

THE annual May Day demonstrations got off to a violent start overnight when police clashed with protestors in Berlin and the northern city of Hamburg.

Several banks and businesses closed today in support of a nationwide strike called to protest at irregularities in Zimbabwe’s widely condemned presidential election.

Commonwealth leaders were meeting in London today to consider suspending Zimbabwe from the organisation in the wake of the disputed presidential elections which returned Robert Mugabe to power.

A national strike against President Robert Mugabe's economic policies and massive fuel price increases has entered its second day.

A national strike to protest at a rise in fuel prices and the government's economic mismanagement has shut down three-quarters of Zimbabwe's economy.