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Zimbabwe situation is 'critical' Zimbabwe situation is 'critical'
(about 1 hour later)
The leader of South Africa's governing party, Jacob Zuma, has described the situation in Zimbabwe as "critical".The leader of South Africa's governing party, Jacob Zuma, has described the situation in Zimbabwe as "critical".
The ANC leader said Zimbabwe was worse than a month ago and it was an urgent matter because people were dying.The ANC leader said Zimbabwe was worse than a month ago and it was an urgent matter because people were dying.
Mr Zuma was speaking in Johannesburg after meeting a group of prominent world leaders, known as the Elders. Mr Zuma was speaking in Johannesburg after meeting a group of prominent world leaders, known as Elders, who have been refused visas for Zimbabwe.
They were refused visas to go to Zimbabwe to assess the humanitarian situation following a stalemate in talks on a power-sharing agreement. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's rival political leaders are due to meet on Tuesday to salvage a power-sharing deal.
A Zimbabwean official said there had been no "prior consultations" over the timing and programme of the proposed visit by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, ex-US President Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela's wife Graca Machel, a human rights activist. South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai would hold talks in South Africa.
He advised the team to reschedule. Strong words
Mr Zuma described as an "unfortunate act" Zimbabwe's decision to refuse visas for three of the Elders. "The situation has gone (beyond) where we could say 'wait and see,'" said Mr Zuma, the president of the African National Congress.
He said the African National Congress (ANC), of which he is president, would be sending a delegation to Zimbabwe to speak to both sides. It is now an urgent matter, people are dying Jacob ZumaANC leader
The delegation would urge both President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to find a solution for the sake of Zimbabwean lives, he said. "We are pleading for the leadership (of the ruling party and opposition) for the sake of the people to find a solution that would help them move forward."
Mr Zuma said the ANC would be sending a delegation to Zimbabwe to push for a political solution to the crisis.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) are in a power-sharing stand-off following disputed presidential elections earlier this year. They have been unable to agree on who should fill key ministries.
"Let us find a way to implement the agreement for the sake of Zimbabweans," he said. "We cannot stay with the agreement without implementing it. It is now an urgent matter, people are dying."
These are some of his strongest words so far on the situation in Zimbabwe, the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says.
South Africa is the region's power-house, and, has led the way in efforts to find a resolution in Zimbabwe.
Visa refusal
Mr Zuma described as an "unfortunate act" Zimbabwe's decision to refuse visas to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, ex-US President Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela's wife Graca Machel, a human rights activist.
They are part of a group called the Elders, set up to tackle world conflicts. The three said the sole aim of the trip had been to help people in Zimbabwe, and that they had no intention of becoming involved in any political negotiations.
The 'Elders' will stay in South Africa to assess the situation
Mr Annan said Zimbabwe's government "made it very clear that it will not co-operate".
A Zimbabwean official denied refusing them entry, but said there had been no "prior consultations" over the timing and programme of the proposed visit. He advised them to reschedule.
Reacting to the news, Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday called for African Union peacekeepers to be deployed to Zimbabwe, saying "there is no legitimate government in Zimbabwe".
Aid groups say Zimbabwe is facing a major humanitarian crisis, with nearly half the population needing food aid by early next year.
The crisis has been made more pressing by the cholera epidemic that has swept Zimbabwe, killing at least 300 people and affecting some 6,000.