Zuma talking to Mugabe, Tsvangirai

Zulu, part of a three-member team set up by Zuma to facilitate dialogue between the Zimbabweans, said the South African President was pushing the squabbling Harare coalition leaders to resolve differences over implementation of their power-sharing deal known as the global political agreement (GPA).

Zuma is the Southern African Development Community (SADC)s official mediator between President Robert Mugabe and his former opposition enemies who came together in a unity government under immense pressure from the regional body keen to contain a political crisis that followed Zimbabwes inconclusive elections in 2008.

We are currently focusing on engaging with the principals only and President Zuma is very active in this exercise calling the principals to try and get a speedier implementation of the outstanding issues and others that are arising, said Zulu by phone from Johannesburg.

The ever-fragile Harare unity government was rocked by serious divisions after Mugabe in October appointed provincial governors without consulting Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the latest in a chain of senior public appointments unilaterally made by the President in violation of the GPA that gave birth to the unity government.

The GPA and a constitutional amendment enacted to cement the political agreement require the President to consult the Prime Minister before making senior public appointments.

But Mugabe has flagrantly this clause of the agreement unilaterally appointing — in addition to governors — his allies to key positions such as attorney general, central bank governor, court judges and ambassadors.

Talk of new elections next year by Mugabe and Tsvangirai to end their marriage of convenience that insiders say is increasingly becoming a hostile affair has further stoked up tensions in Zimbabwe in recent weeks.

Civil society groups say the country is not ready for new elections because political violence is still taking place, while several electoral reforms and a proposed new constitution still need to be implemented and given time to take root to ensure the next vote is free and fair.

Zulu said Zumas current efforts are among other things aimed at ensuring Zimbabwes next elections are in line with recommendations by SADC leaders at a summit last August.

Elections are just but one of a host of many others that we are dealing with, Zulu said. We are guided by the SADC decision on a roadmap to an election which includes a whole host of things such as the political environment and electoral systems.

The election roadmap includes adopting a new constitution, drawing up a fresh voters roll, ending political violence and passing of new electoral rules by Parliament.

But none of the measures have been implemented and analysts say there isnt enough time between now and mid next year — when Mugabe says Zimbabwe must go to polls to carry out the reforms.