Zuma backs speedy democratic reforms in Zimbabwe

Zuma backs speedy democratic reforms in ZimbabweHarare  - South African president Jacob Zuma Friday ended a two-day visit to Zimbabwe to mediate between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, saying they had agreed to accelerate implementation of their power-sharing agreement.

Speaking as he opened Harare's annual agricultural show, Zuma urged Mugabe and Tsvangirai - partners in the country's coalition government - to work together to remove any remaining obstacles in honouring the agreement.

Zuma held consultations with Mugabe and Tsvangirai, separately and together, after the pro-democracy leader appealed to him early this month as head of the regional organization that brokered the transitional administration to get the 85-year-old president to stop maintaining his repressive rule.

The parties were in agreement on the need to speed up the implementation and find solutions to the current points of the agreement, Zuma said. Zuma issued a statement before departing bluntly warning Mugabe that following through on sharing power with Tsvangirai was essential toward restoring Western aid.

The government also has a responsibility fully to implement the agreement and create confidence in the process, Zuma said - in an apparent criticism of Mugabe's insistence that he has met all his obligations.

MDC sources said that Tsvangirai had been pleased with Zuma's mediation, and that he had been very fair in the talks. It was in marked contrast to former South African president Thabo Mbeki, who brokered last year's talks that led to the coalition agreement, the sources said.

Tsvangirai and Mbeki constantly clashed, with Tsvangirai demanding his replacement as mediator because of his open support for Mugabe. Mbeki was widely criticised for his policy of quiet diplomacy in which he never criticised Mugabe.

MDC sources said Zuma interrupted a lengthy banquet hosted by Mugabe Thursday night, insisting he leave to meet privately with Tsvangirai.

After that two-hour meeting, he went on to meet deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara, the leader of the breakaway faction of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change and the other partner in the coalition government, for another two hours.

Tsvangirai says Mugabe's police are on a campaign of trumped-up prosecutions of MDC members of parliament and human rights activists. He accused Mugabe of unilaterally appointing cronies to key positions and stalling on the creation of a democratic constitution and media reforms.

Mugabe claims that Tsvangirai has not carried out his obligation under the agreement to have sanctions against the government lifted. The United States and European Union have enacted travel and investment bans on Mugabe and his inner circle.

Before Zuma's visit, there were hopes among Tsvangirai's camp that Zuma would, behind closed doors, be firm with Mugabe, after remarks on Wednesday by Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, that the wave of prosecutions of MDC MPs amounted to deviant behavior by Mugabe, and that Zuma would be vocal in his criticism.

The MDC says Mugabe's refusal to budge on democratic reforms is blocking massive aid from Western countries that insist on irreversible change before they open their wallets.

The country is also facing famine among 2.8 million people and the imminent outbreak of cholera that killed 4,000 people last year. Analysts say Mugabe is under pressure from powerful hardliners in his party that are fiercely opposed to any concessions that would see them lose power and privileges. (dpa)