South African President Thabo Mbeki met his Zimbabwean counterpart on Thursday after local media reports that he was stepping in to break a deadlock in talks aimed at ending Zimbabwe’s political and economic crises.
Mbeki met with Robert Mugabe at a hotel for four hours and also met with members of the political opposition. No details of the discussions have emerged.
Last year, the Southern African Development Community asked Mbeki to oversee talks between Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF and the two factions of the opposition 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.
The opposition has demanded that a new Constitution be implemented before a presidential election is held and that the poll, scheduled for March, be postponed to June to allow for legal changes to take effect.
State-controlled television showed Mbeki with Mugabe on the steps at the government State House offices in Harare bidding farewell to the elder African leader before returning to South Africa.
Asked about a timetable for an agreement, Mbeki said: ”They are still talking. You can’t just finish by lunchtime.”
Mugabe said nothing.
Earlier, Mbeki also met with several opposition figures at the South African ambassador’s residence. Mbeki had been expected to also meet with Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, but that was not confirmed. Nor was it clear if he met with the leaders of the other faction in the split MDC.
Mugabe appears to have cut short a holiday in Malaysia; he had been expected back on Sunday.
A media blackout has been imposed on the talks. But on Wednesday South African 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 the election can be held as scheduled in March and ”whether the agreed changes to the new Constitution can come into force”.
On Tuesday, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who was on a visit to South Africa, told reporters 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, gasoline 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 election. However, a launch of a new party by Makoni expected on Wednesday never happened. ‒ Sapa-AP