A week-long strike by Zimbabwe magistrates over pay could be joined by more disgruntled state employees, increasing pressure on President Robert Mugabe ahead of elections next year, analysts said.
The Southern African country is grappling with a severe economic crisis that has pushed inflation past 7 900% — the world’s highest — resulted in shortages of foreign currency, food and fuel, and left many workers unable to feed their families.
This year alone has witnessed wildcat strikes from doctors, nurses, teachers and university lecturers, all demanding higher wages but some workers have stopped coming to work all together, moving to neighbouring countries or abroad for better jobs.
”This is an electoral season that we are in and the government can ill afford to have an ocean of discontent which its opponents can use for their own political ends,” said Eldred Masunungure, a leading political analyst.
The strike by the magistrates, which started in Harare, has spread countrywide and forced courts to close. Analysts said the possibility that other state departments could join the strike is likely to worry Mugabe’s government.
The veteran Zimbabwe leader has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1980. While he has outmanoeuvred political opponents to cling to power, critics see the deteriorating economy threatening his grip.
”The government will be gravely concerned, there is no doubt about that … and there is real fear the infection will spread to other [government] sectors,” Masunungure said.
As the economic crisis worsens, Mugabe’s government has resorted to cracking down on dissent, prompting workers to avoid street demonstrations and express their discontent instead by staying away from their jobs.
Faced with a weak and divided opposition, analysts say Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party look set to win presidential and parliamentary elections in 2008.
But it is the economy that continues to pose headaches for Mugabe as government efforts to rein in inflation have largely failed and it continues to print money to appease workers.
”Luckily the opposition is in disarray but economic pressure certainly remains and if unchecked, this strike will spread and paralyse government operations,” Masunungure said.
The magistrates’ want their monthly pay raised sixfold from Z$29-million, which is $966 on the official market but $39 on a thriving parallel market.
The strike has meant suspects are held longer in police or remand custody.
”The employer has been seized with concerns of the middle and lower levels of the judiciary and the employer is addressing these concerns in an expeditious manner as is reasonably practical,” David Mangota, permanent secretary in the justice ministry said in a memorandum to senior magistrates this week. – Reuters