Zimbabwe labor movement calls for general strike

HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) -- Zimbabwe's main labor movement on Friday called for a general strike to pressure President Robert Mugabe to end the violence against opposition supporters and the occupation of white-owned farms.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), which enjoys the support of most of the country's 1.2 million laborers, said a nationwide strike would begin on Wednesday.

"We cannot tolerate a situation where the opposition or the general public is subjected to violence for any reason and where lawlessness is allowed to prevail on the farms under the guise of land reform," ZCTU Acting Secretary-General Nicholas Mudzengerere told Reuters.

"If these (issues) are addressed, we will call off the strike," he said after an emergency meeting of the ZCTU council. The umbrella group represents trade unions in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and the public sector.

Zimbabwe's white farmers' union said on Tuesday that threats and invasions of their land by war veterans and pro-government militants might force its members to halt farming nationwide next week.

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