Mbeki, Mugabe in 4-hour talks

2008-01-17 17:21

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki met his Zimbabwean counterpart on Thursday after local media reports that Mbeki was stepping in to break a deadlock in talks aimed at ending Zimbabwe's political and economic crises.

SABC radio reported Mbeki spent four hours with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in Harare, Zimbabwe. Mugabe, who met Mbeki at the airport in the morning, appears to have cut short a holiday in Malaysia - he had been expected back on Sunday.

Mbeki was expected to next meet with Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change. No details of Mbeki's meeting have emerged and it is not clear who else he will meet on the one-day visit.

Last year, the Southern African Development Community asked Mbeki to oversee talks between Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF and the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change. Mbeki, who had long been criticised for his policy of "quiet diplomacy" toward Zimbabwe, has been credited with achieving some progress.

A media blackout has been imposed on the talks. But on Wednesday Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said there was "real movement" and agreement "on all substantive issues".

But he said there was still a question as to whether elections can be held as scheduled in March and "whether the agreed changes to the new constitution can come into force."

The opposition has demanded that a new constitution be implemented before elections are held and that the poll be postponed to June to allow for legal changes to take effect.

On Tuesday, visiting Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said that Mbeki had briefed him about the talks and that parties were close to finalising a political document that would ensure a free and fair election.

Zimbabwe is in the throes of its worst economic crisis since Mugabe led the nation to independence from Britain in 1980, with the world's highest inflation by far and chronic shortages of food, fuel and most basic goods.

Mugabe's critics accuse him of economic mismanagement, failure to curb corruption and contempt for democracy. Last year saw an increasing crackdown on opposition supporters.

Last month, Zanu-PF unanimously endorsed Mugabe as its sole candidate in the presidential vote expected in March. But there has been increasing speculation that the 83-year-old veteran's hold over his party is weakening.

Former finance minister Simba Makoni has been reported to be mounting a challenge to Mugabe's leadership in the elections. However, a launch of a new party by Makoni expected on Wednesday never happened.

- AP