Windhoek  - Jacob Zuma, the leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, on Monday reiterated his calls for a speedy solution to the political crisis in Zimbabwe as he started a two-day visit to Namibia.

Zuma is in Namibia to boost relations between the ANC and its Namibian counterpart, the former liberation-movement-turned-ruling party, SWAPO.

"We need some swift action to deal with the situation in Zimbabwe," Zuma told Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba during official talks between the ANC and SWAPO at State House in the capital Windhoek.

Zuma, who has been much more vocal in his criticism of Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe than his ANC predecessor, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, called on the "Zimbabwean leadership to act hastily" and to "ratify amendment 19 of the constitution and pave the way for a unity government."

The amendment is necessary to give effect to the power-sharing agreement signed by Mugabe and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in September.

That agreement has been frozen ever since, as the longtime rivals squabble over which party should get which positions.

Despite mounting international calls for Mugabe to step down, rather than head a unity government, Zuma emphasised his full support for Mbeki, who is mediating in the talks, to get the deal off the ground.

Both Zuma and Pohamba also stressed the need for closer cooperation between their parties in fields such as health, education and rural development.

Zuma will meet Namibia's founding president Sam Nujoma over the course of his visit and give an address at the Namibian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry before leaving the country on Tuesday afternoon. (dpa)