Zimbabwe election: Mbeki set for Mugabe talks

AFP, May, 2008

HARARE (AFP) — South African President Thabo Mbeki, the chief regional mediator on the crisis in Zimbabawe, was due on Friday to make his first visit to Harare since the release of disputed election results.

Mbeki, widely criticised for his softly-softly approach towards his counterpart Robert Mugabe, was expected to meet the veteran Zimbabwean leader but it was not clear whether the opposition would also be on his itinerary.

"Mbeki will meet with the country's political leadership in the context of his Southern African Development Community-mandated facilitation process," said Ronnie Mamoepa, a South African foreign ministry spokesman.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which won control of parliament in the March 29 election and whose...