ANC Delegation Meets Zimbabwean Leader in Harare

A delegation from South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party Wednesday met Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as diplomatic efforts intensified to find a solution to Zimbabwe’s political crisis, state radio reported.

The ANC delegation was led by the party’s deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, and also included secretary general Gwede Mantashe.

State radio said besides Mugabe the South African ruling party delegation also met senior ZANU PF officials and discussed “ways of strengthening Africa’s liberation movements” in the face of an onslaught by the West.

The ANC has previously contradicted South African President Thabo Mbeki on its position on Zimbabwe.

Mbeki has refrained from criticizing Mugabe while ANC president Jacob Zuma has publicly admitted that the situation in South Africa’s northern neighbor was “out of control”.

Mbeki is the official regional mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis, which has worsened in the past fortnight after Mugabe won a sixth term of office in an election widely criticized following the withdrawal of his opponent.

Talks between ZANU PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change were expected to commence in Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday.

Source African Press Agency

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