PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma is planning to visit his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, to discuss concerns raised yesterday by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai about the functioning of the unity government. (picture: AP Photo)Zuma and Tsvangirai met at ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, yesterday morning to discuss the political situation in Zimbabwe since the formation of a unity government there about five months ago.
The MDC leader had been in the country since Friday, but could not get a meeting with the president until yesterday. Zuma was accompanied by International Affairs Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
After the meeting, Zuma said he would try to resolve with Mugabe the few but very weighty issues that Tsvangirai and the MDC were unhappy about.
The unity government came about earlier this year after a power-sharing deal late last year between Mugabe, Tsvangirai and breakaway MDC leader Arthur Mutambara.
Tsvangirai has accused Mugabe of reneging on aspects of the deal. These include Mugabes insistence on having two of his close associates continue as head of the central bank and as attorney-general. The MDC has also complained about the continued police harassment of its members and MPs.
Zuma, who is chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said he would take up the issues raised by Tsvangirai with Mugabe and Mutambara.
Given the briefing [by Tsvangirai], I will be contacting President Mugabe as well as [Mutambara] on the issues the prime minister has raised, Zuma said.
The president said he will brief other SADC leaders about his meeting with the MDC leader.
Tsvangirai said that Zuma understands the situation in Zimbabwe. He said he was confident Zuma will do all in his power to ensure we move in a positive way.
The Zimbabwean leader later flew to Botswana for a similar meeting with President Ian Khama.
The Times (SA)
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