Mbeki to meet Mugabe, Zuma doubts fair vote
Thursday, 19 June 2008
HARARE, June 18 (Reuters): South African President Thabo Mbeki will meet Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe Wednesday for talks ahead of next week's presidential election run-off, Mbeki's spokesman said.
South African ruling party leader Jacob Zuma, using his bluntest language to date over Zimbabwe's election, said he was not expecting a fair vote.
"I think we'll be lucky if we have a free election," Zuma told Reuters. When asked if he thought the vote would be fair, Zuma replied "I don't think so."
Mbeki has led regional mediation efforts in Zimbabwe's increasingly violent crisis and has drawn criticism for his diplomatic approach to Mugabe, who faces opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai in the June 27 vote.
South African ruling party leader Jacob Zuma, using his bluntest language to date over Zimbabwe's election, said he was not expecting a fair vote.
"I think we'll be lucky if we have a free election," Zuma told Reuters. When asked if he thought the vote would be fair, Zuma replied "I don't think so."
Mbeki has led regional mediation efforts in Zimbabwe's increasingly violent crisis and has drawn criticism for his diplomatic approach to Mugabe, who faces opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai in the June 27 vote.