Zimbabwe's main labour federation today called a three-day general strike later this week to protest the post-election harassment of workers.
Previously led by defeated presidential challenger Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, the federation's members are believed to have been among his strongest backers against President Robert Mugabe, who won a fifth term as head of Zimbabwe's government last week in an election many countries and observers have said was rigged.
Pointing to an attempt by police to monitor a closed union council meeting last week, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said in a statement it feared the government planned to curtail union activities.
"The ZCTU therefore calls on all workers to stay away from their work places on Wednesday...to Friday...in protest against the state's disregard for the trade union freedoms...the harassment, beatings and displacement workers are experiencing in the aftermath of the presidential elections," said the statement signed by ZCTU secretary general Wellington Chibebe.
New laws imposed by Mr Mugabe over the past year have significantly curtailed the right of protest in Zimbabwe and political analysts could not say immediately whether the strike would be legal.