After weeks of so-called “clean up,” where tens of thousands of opposition supporters have had their homes and trader stalls demolished, trade unions, churches, and civil organizations are banding together to call for a nationwide working strike.

A SHADOWY coalition of civil groups and opponents of President Robert Mugabe called today for mass strikes to bring Zimbabwe to a halt, while churches stepped up criticism of a government clampdown on shack dwellers and street traders.

Shielding its identity and headquarters in fear of Mugabe’s draconian security legislation, an hitherto unknown organisation calling itself the “Broad Alliance” distributed leaflets and mobile phone messages urging a nationwide strike on Thursday and Friday.

“Take to the streets,” one message said.

Police confirmed the seriousness with which authorities were taking the challenge to 81-year-old Mugabe’s 25-year rule, saying they had deployed extra manpower to suppress protests.

At least 23,000 people have been arrested in Mugabe’s two-week blitz on street traders and shack dwellers, police said. A United Nations human rights expert in Geneva estimated 200,000 had been left homeless, with 2 million more under threat.

The only established group so far to publicly call for protests against the destruction of homes and livelihoods has been the feminist group Women Of Zimbabwe Arise, with about 10,000 supporters. The call, however, could put its leaders at risk a 20-year prison term for “attempting to coerce the government.”

The privately owned Sunday Standard reported that the “Broad Alliance” had tacit backing of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, as well as trades unions, churches and reform groups, although none would formally confirm this.

Lovemore Madhuku, leader of the National Constitutional Assembly which galvanised public rejection of Mugabe’s planned new constitution in February 2000, said the Alliance was “prepared to provide leadership to the masses in their struggle against the oppressive dictatorship.”

“The regime has turned against the people to the extent of beating them up, destroying their homes and stalls,” he said.

This is an interesting idea of protest. An outward protest, with people taking to the streets, would undoubtedly be bloodily put down by Mugabe’s thugs. But a nationwide strike from work only requires staying home, something that they can’t put down or even avert. We’ll have to see what happens. Meanwhile, Zimpundit notes what happened last time a stay-away was called, and has some fighting words for Mugabe.

The last succesful stayaway which started on November 11, 1998 paralyzed the country as youths and rowdy crowds fought running battles with anti-riot police and the army. This last strike led ultimately to the formation of the MDC.

The reason behind that protest: government authorized price increases which the public felt were unwarranted. Going by this formula of illogical government action preceding a violent protest countrywide, Operation Murambatsvina lends circumstances most conducive to widespread protest and chaos.

This is our moment Zimbabweans, let us in the words of Bob Marley, “Get up, stand up. Get for your rights!”

Since the international community isn’t doing anything, this seems to be their last and only resort. I always write about how the international community, the free world, can do something to prevent tyrants from completely undoing a country and its people at the seams. Mugabe is the worst. He doesn’t just jail people, he prevents them from even eating. I think what I wrote with regards to the Andijon massacre applies: “When, inevitably, Uzbekistan comes to reform, the people are going to remember who their friends were when they lived under a government they hated.”

Now, from the Sokwanele blog, a desperate cry for help and anger that the free world isn’t doing anything.

Tears roll down my cheeks as I remember the market as it was just one week ago. Now as I write this, I am angry. Angry at mugabe. Angry at the police and army who carry out insane orders from a despot. But most of all, I am angry at the international community. Zimbabweans are crying out for help. We have not had a natural disaster. We have had no ???????tsunami???????? but we are suffering the same horrors! This dictator has no mercy! Please, somebody help us!

If you happen to be from the US government, and you read this, give it a thought over.