Mbeki, religious leaders discuss Zimbabwe crisis

President Thabo Mbeki and President Robert Mugabe

President Thabo Mbeki and religious leaders have agreed that the Zimbabwean situation should be resolved as speedily as possible. Mbeki briefed members of the presidential religious working group at the Union Buildings in Pretoria today on his facilitation of events in Zimbabwe.

Co-chairperson of the religious group, Ashwin Trikamjee, said after the meeting the run-off presidential election must take place in a peaceful atmosphere.

Trikamjee said progress is being made in investigating violence claims involving former defence generals. He said the investigating team will report to Mbeki soon.

With an election run-off looming, the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission is reported as saying that it will take some time to get ready, as it still has to raise funds for the run-off.

In an about turn, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) announced that it will participate in the run-off. But they called on the UN and the EU to monitor the run-off. It's still unclear whether the MDC and Zanu-PF will agree on a transitional government of national unity.

During her budget speech tomorrow, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is expected to touch on the situation in Zimbabwe.