Zimbabwe police out in force on first day of national strike

Zimbabwean police and troops fanned out through impoverished townships today on the first day of a two-day national strike called to protest against deepening economic hardships blamed on the government.

Police manned roadblocks across the capital Harare, and four trucks carrying soldiers were seen heading to the southern town of Chitungwiza, 15 miles away.

Police ordered township shops and bars to close early yesterday evening as paramilitary police and water canon trucks were deployed, witnesses said.

There were no early reports of incidents or arrests. Commuter buses appeared to be operating normally with full loads of passengers.

A national reaction force of police and troops was sent to potential trouble spots, police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said, according to state radio reports this morning.

The strike was a likely “avenue for acts of violence” by government opponents, he said.

Security measures were in place to keep schools open on the last day of the term before the Easter break, Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told state radio.

He described the strike – known as a stayaway with workers being urged to stay at home and not to take to the streets – as “irrational”.

The government was “doing all it could to address the current economic challenges facing the country,” the radio station quoted him as saying.

The main Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions called the strike to protest against the country’s economic crisis, accusing the government of corruption and mismanagement that fuelled official inflation of nearly 1,700 percent – the highest rate in the world – as well as 80 per cent unemployment and acute shortages of food, hard currency and fuel.

Labour unions planned no street demonstrations for fear of inciting police action.