Zimbabwe strike flops, concern in S.Africa

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE (Reuters) - An opposition general strike to demand the release of Zimbabwe's delayed election result flopped on Tuesday and the ruling party in neighbouring South Africa called the situation "dire".

Fears of a crackdown by President Robert Mugabe's government and the desperate need of many Zimbabweans to make enough money to survive in a collapsing economy undermined the strike.

It was the second setback in two days for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) -- which says it has won the election -- after a High Court judge on Monday refused to order the release of the presidential result.

But calls to announce the outcome of the March 29 vote won powerful backing from South Africa's ruling African National Congress, which said there should be no further delay.

A statement from the ANC's executive National Working Committee said the situation was "dire, with negative consequences" for all of southern Africa.

The prolonged uncertainty over events in Zimbabwe hit South Africa's rand currency on Tuesday, which fell to its lowest level in five days.

"The comments coming out with regards to the ANC and Zimbabwe ... I think that's one of the reasons it has weakened. The uncertainty of Zimbabwe is definitely around," a trader said. South Africa's power crisis also hurt the currency.

There have been increasing signs in the ANC of impatience with President Thabo Mbeki's "quiet diplomacy" on Zimbabwe since he was replaced as party leader by Jacob Zuma last year.