 President Robert Mugabe (r) hosted a state banquet for Jacob Zuma |
South African President Jacob Zuma has said the problems in Zimbabwe's unity government are not "insurmountable".
He has held talks with both President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on his first official visit to Harare as president.
Mr Mugabe, looking in good health, admitted to "teething problems" in the power-sharing administration but said these were to be expected.
Mr Tsvangirai's MDC party accuses Mr Mugabe of acting in bad faith.
The long-time opposition Movement for Democratic Change says its activists continue to be harassed even after it joined the government in February.
It hopes Mr Zuma will put pressure on Mr Mugabe to rein in his hardline supporters, especially in the security forces, who it says are trying to derail the unity accord.
Mr Zuma is the current chair of the Southern African Development Community, the body which helped to broker the power-sharing deal.
"The remaining issues are not insurmountable and can be overcome. The most difficult path has already been travelled," Mr Zuma said at a state banquet hosted by President Mugabe.
Mr Mugabe said the "teething problems" have "not detracted us from our agreed common vision to establish peace, turn around the economy and work to deliver the services expected of us by the generality of our people".
Journalist Brian Hungwe says Mr Mugabe, 85, appeared healthy.
Zimbabwe officials have denied recent press reports that Mr Mugabe was ill, labelling them the product of "sick and evil minds".
Mr Zuma also held an hour-long meeting with Mr Tsvangirai and is expected to meet both Zimbabwean leaders again later on Friday.
He is also due to make a speech at the Harare Agricultural Show.
A spokesman for Mr Zuma's African National Congress party said he planned to be more outspoken about Zimbabwe's problems - a contrast to the "quiet diplomacy" of his predecessor Thabo Mbeki.
"President Zuma will be more vocal in terms of what we see as deviant behaviour," Gwede Mantashe told reporters.
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