SOUTH AFRICAN president Thabo Mbeki met Robert Mugabe yesterday amid growing signs of international impatience with the Zimbabwean leader over violence against his opponents.
Mr Mugabe faces a presidential election run-off on June 27th against Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and stands accused of orchestrating a campaign of killings and intimidation.
Jacob Zuma, president of the South African ANC, voiced doubts yesterday over whether the vote could be fair, a strong indication that patience was running short with Mr Mugabe in Africa as well as among his traditional western critics.
Mr Mbeki has led regional mediation efforts in Zimbabwe and has been criticised for a quiet diplomatic approach that has failed to end a political and economic crisis which has driven millions of people into neighbouring states.
In his bluntest language yet on the crisis, Mr Zuma criticised the violence that has engulfed Zimbabwe since the March 29th general election.
"I think we'll be lucky if we have a free election," he said after a speech in the South African capital Pretoria. Mr Zuma has taken a much tougher line on Zimbabwe than Mr Mbeki.
When asked if he thought the run-off would be fair, Mr Zuma replied: "I don't think so."
The United States and former colonial rulers Britain also accuse Mr Mugabe of trying to intimidate opponents to ensure he keeps his 28-year hold on power.
"It is time for the leaders of Africa to say to President Mugabe that the people of Zimbabwe deserve a free and fair election," US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice told reporters in Washington.
Ms Rice said she would co-chair a round-table meeting at the United Nations today to discuss Zimbabwe.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said the current violence, intimidation and arrest of opposition leaders could not lead to credible elections.
"Should these conditions continue to prevail, the legitimacy of the election outcomes would be in question," Mr Ban told an informal session of the UN General Assembly.
Rwandan president Paul Kagame heaped scorn on Mr Mugabe and the Zanu-PF for vowing not to surrender power if beaten.
"For me the question that it raises is why do you even call for elections?" Mr Kagame said in a news conference in Rwanda's capital, Kigali. - (Reuters)