Zimbabwe's main labour federation has called a three-day general strike later this week to protest at post-election harassment. Previously led by presidential challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai, the federation's members were among his strongest backers against President Robert Mugabe, who secured a fifth term last week in an election widely seen to have been rigged.
Meanwhile, a white farmer was shot dead in Zimbabwe today. Terry Ford had tried to escape an attack by driving through a fence after a car had blocked his main gate, it has been reported.
When he failed to drive through the fence he was pulled from his car, bound to a tree and shot dead. He is the tenth white farmer to be killed since President Mugabe's supporters began seizing white-owned farms two years ago.
In a separate development, the presidents of South Africa and Nigeria have held talks with President Mugabe about the political crisis in his country following the presidential election.
The presidents of Africa's two most powerful states are thought to have urged Mr Mugabe to form a government of national unity with his defeated challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria visited the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, on their way to London. They are set to take part in a London meeting tomorrow of a Commonwealth group that will decide whether or not sanctions should be imposed on Zimbabwe.
Although Western nations have criticised the conduct of the election, it has been endorsed by a number of African states.
