By MacDonald Dzirutwe
HARARE (Reuters) - A Zimbabwe opposition call for a generalstrike to demand the release of delayed presidential electionresults flopped on Tuesday and the ruling party in neighbouringSouth Africa said the situation was "dire".
Fears of a fierce government crackdown and the desperateneed of many Zimbabweans to make enough money to subsist in theface of a collapsing economy undermined participation in thestoppage.
It was the second setback in two days for the oppositionMovement for Democratic Change (MDC) after a High Court judgeon Monday refused to order the release of results from theMarch 29 poll.
But calls to announce the outcome won powerful backing fromSouth Africa's ruling African National Congress which said itmust be released "without any further delay".
Confirming an increasing breach over Zimbabwe between theANC and South African President Thabo Mbeki, a statement by theparty's executive National Working Committee said the situationwas "dire, with negative consequences" for all of southernAfrica.
Mbeki, who led unsuccessful mediation by the SouthernAfrican Development Community (SADC) last year, said before asummit of the group last weekend there was no post-electioncrisis in Zimbabwe.
The committee said Mbeki "needs to observe a neutralposition" in his role as mediator.
Jacob Zuma toppled Mbeki as head of the ANC last Decemberand has publicly called for the results to be released.
In Zimbabwe, the strike call went unanswered in manyplaces, including the capital Harare.
"We employ ourselves here, any day's work we lose hits ourpockets," said Patrick Daka, who runs a brick-making venturealong with four others in a southern industrial area of Harare.
Banks, shops and offices in central Harare were open asmany workers ignored the call for an indefinite stoppage.
(Additional reporting by Muchena Zigomo, Nelson Banya, CrisChinaka; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Barry Moody)
