Archbishop Desmond Tutu has pleaded for increased support for Zimbabwe's fragile national unity government.The anti-apartheid icon, a key-note speaker at Hay's literary festival, said Zimbabwe had become a "hell on earth".
He was questioned by a Zimbabwean activist on the lack of unity among the leaders of southern African countries in dealing robustly with Robert Mugabe's regime.
He said the new unity government was the best option and that change could only really come at the next election.
Archbishop Tutu told the woman that he "felt very deeply" with her anguish.
Tutu, now the emeritus Archbishop of Cape Town, said some leaders had taken a tougher line with President Mugabe.
He said he hoped other leaders would follow suit.
Tutu also said he understood too that countries were reluctant to give aid to a country with so many problems.
But he said this was the best way forward and that would help to strengthen the political process and give Morgan Tsvangirai a decisive mandate at the next election.
In a wide-ranging and witty conversation with festival director Peter Florence, the Nobel laureate praised the human spirit in adversity.
He said if apartheid could be abolished in South Africa then surely most of the world's problems could be solved.
There was no situation that was "totally intractable" he said.
* BBC
