Zimbabwe’s Vice President Joyce Mujuru met South Africa’s Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Johannesburg on Friday, e.tv reported.
The television station had footage of Mujuru at the plush Westcliff Hotel in Johannesburg. She declined to answer questions put to her by a reporter.
South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Department could not confirm that the two women had met.
Departmental spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the visit was a private one.
”The vice-president of Zimbabwe is on a private visit to South Africa and therefore it is not on an official diary,” Mamoepa said.
He declined to comment further.
Mujuru’s visit came at a time of political crisis and violent state repression of dissent in Zimbabwe, and when South Africa’s policy of quiet diplomacy towards that country’s government was being criticised.
e.tv said that Mujuru was a possible contender to succeed Zimbabwe’s 83-year-old President Robert Mugabe, but also said she and her husband, retired army commander Solomon Mujuru, were out of favour with Mugabe. Mugabe has accused the couple of plotting to oust him.
The Observer newspaper reported that Mujuru boycotted Mugabe’s 83rd birthday celebrations.
Zimbabwe had two vice-presidents. The other was Joseph Msika, like Mugabe also in his 80s.
Mujuru, chosen by the ruling Zanu-PF in December 2004, was the first woman to occupy the post.
The United Nations news service Irin suggested at the time that she was chosen more to exclude other candidates to succeed Mugabe than as a likely successor herself. – Sapa