Jacob Zuma flies to Zimbabwe to help mediate political problems

Central Asia News.Net
Tuesday 16th March, 2010

South African President Jacob Zuma has gone to Harare in an attempt to patch up a rift in Zimbabwean government circles.

There has been another clash between the two parties that form government and their leaders, Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai.

A year ago the parties and former rivals, Zanu-PF and MDC, agreed to share power between Zanu-PF leader, President Robert Mugabe and MDC chief, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

This time the MDC has accused Mugabe of appointing people to high positions without consultation and of having launched proceedings against MDC politician Roy Bennet over alleged involvement in terrorism.

In turn, Mr Mugabe has blamed Mr Tsvangirai for doing too little to lift western sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Mr Zuma has flown in to ease the crisis, which is doing nothing to solve the countries severe economic, HIV/AIDS and drought crises.

An estimate three million Zimbabweans have sought refuge in South Africa in the last few years, a human flow that Mr Zuma wants to stop.

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