The ZCTU has demanded that the 67 percent price of fuel announced last weekend be reversed. The government has said it will not reduce the fuel price as petrol in Zimbabwe remains the cheapest in southern Africa. However Tsvangirai said there should be no comparison with other countries as standards of living in the countries are different. The minimum wage in Zimbabwe is not the same as the minimum wage in South Africa. The dollar is weaker than the Rand and the Pula.
Every worker is asked to stay at home.
Part of the reason why the local currency has plunged to all time lows in recent weeks, is the country's involvement in the DRC where a rebel mutiny is determined to overthrow the government of President Laurent Kabila. The government for its part says high import demand, poor commodity prices for crops like tobacco and minerals like gold, and speculation are to blame for the weakening zim dollar. Chen Chimutengwende, information minister, called on workers to ignore the ZCTU call for a stay away. In the state-controlled Herald newspaper today, he said this would be harmful to the economy. He warned those who do not report for work they risked losing their salaries.