Zimbabwe threatens firms which heeded job boycott

HARARE (Reuters) - President Robert Mugabe's government threatened action on Thursday against businesses it accused of shutting down during a job boycott called by Zimbabwe unions to protest against a deepening economic crisis.

The two-day strike organised by the main Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) failed after the government warned protesters against participating in what it said was a ploy by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to topple it.

Many companies and shops in major cities were open during the two days this week. On Thursday state radio reported some firms had heeded the ZCTU call and shut down their businesses.

Industry and International Trade Minister Obert Mpofu has directed these companies "to submit their reasons in writing within 24 hours", according to ZBC radio.

"We want to identify those abetting the stay-away so that we can confront them and find what their motives and agendas are. We will actually invoke certain measures which will not be very comfortable with them," Mpofu was quoted by the official Herald newspaper as saying, without giving further details.

ZCTU leaders say fear crippled the boycott which was called to reflect mounting anger over an economic crisis. Inflation has soared past 1,700 percent and left most workers struggling to feed their families.

The strike call came after Mugabe's government launched a crackdown on the opposition which injured several people, including main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.