Zuma and Tsvangirai met to discuss the deterioration of political relations across the Limpopo following last week’s temporary withdrawal of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) from the inclusive government.
“Zimbabwe should not be allowed to slide back into instability,” Zuma said.
Tsvangirai launched a diplomatic campaign in the region this week to persuade leaders of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to intervene in crisis-torn Zimbabwe.
“Prime Minister Tsvangirai has met President Zuma for critical talks. The prime minister raised a number of issues leading to his decision to disengage from cabinet and the council of ministers,” Tsvangirai’s spokesman, James Maridadi, said.
“The two leaders discussed in detail the issues at stake covering matters in dispute and those which need to be implemented in terms of the Global Political Agreement.”
Zuma, who relinquished the Sadc chairmanship last month, remains influential in the bloc.
Diplomatic sources said that Sadc executive secretary Tomaz Salamao was yesterday expected to meet Zuma and former South African president Thabo Mbeki .
Tsvangirai would next meet Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos and Sadc’s chairman, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila.
Tsvangirai on Tuesday met the chairman of the Sadc organ on politics, defence and security, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, in Chimoio.
Guebuza said he would dispatch a Sadc team to Zimbabwe to hold talks with Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) party and the two factions of the MDC in an attempt to resolve the standoff.
* Business Day
