Leaders to attend summit on Zimbabwe crisis

South African President Thabo Mbeki and four other regional heads of state will travel to Harare next week for a two-day summit with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe aimed at resolving the crisis in that country, AFP reported on Tuesday, quoting a presidential spokesman. Bheki Khumalo told AFP that Mbeki would be joined in the Zimbabwean capital by the presidents of Botswana, Malawi, Angola and Namibia.

The meeting forms part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative to address issues relating to Zimbabwe.

The meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday with Mugabe and his cabinet ministers will also involve interest groups such as commercial farmers and war veterans. “This indicates the commitment of the South African government to do whatever it can to deal with some of the challenges facing Zimbabwe,” Khumalo said.

Zimbabwe has been shaken since early last year by the seizures of white-owned farms by landless blacks and by violence by pro-government militants. Political opponents of Mugabe have been attacked, killed and beaten by his supporters with the apparent backing of the police. The rand hit a record low against the dollar early on Tuesday amid concern in South Africa about the political and economic situation in neighbouring Zimbabwe, dealers said.