Attempts to end Zimbabwe feuding

IN a bid to end feuding between Zimbabwe’s coalition partners, South African president Jacob Zuma met president Robert Mugabe and other leaders and appeared cautiously optimistic that their differences could be resolved.

Zuma, making his first visit to the neighbouring country as South Africa’s president, is expected to push Mugabe, who greeted him warmly, for more reforms and to take him to task for continuing harassment of rival politicians.

Mugabe entered into a unity government in February with Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader who became prime minister. But internal bickering has hamstrung the new administration and a number of key posts have not been filled.

At a dinner for Zuma on Thursday night, Mugabe tried to paint a sunny picture, saying the unity government was “alive and well” and that Zimbabwe’s leaders were “committed to its success”.

Zuma, sounding less buoyant but retaining a note of optimism, said the unresolved issues facing the unity government were “not insurmountable”.

Zuma also met Tsvangirai who has accused Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party of stalling on reforms and continuing to attack and harass its activists.