afrol News, 18 June - President Thabo Mbeki jetted into Zimbabwe today for talks with President Robert Mugabe amid growing concerns on violence threatening presidential run-off election.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed mediator, is expected to meet President Mugabe in Bulawayo to discuss next week's presidential run-off polls. However, Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has rejected to meet Mr Mbeki.

A statement issued by Mr Mbeki's foreign affairs ministry said a trip to meet with Zimbabwean President Mugabe, was part of his efforts to mediate between Mr Mugabe and opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mr Mugabe has been under a spotlight since March polls after he came in second position. He has ever since been accused of mounting a campaign of violence against opposition aimed at ensuring he wins the run-off due next week.

MDC spokesman, Mr Nqobizitha Mlilo, said the party has little confidence in president Mbeki's trip, saying none of the party officials planned to meet with the mediator. "We don't even know what his agenda is," Mlilo said, adding MDC cannot attach expectations to unknown agenda.

Preseident Mbeki's silent diplomacy ever since he was appointed by SADC to mediate in Zimbabwe, led international community including Mr Tsvangirai to call for Mr Mbeki to step down due to his biasness seemingly favouring Mr Mugabe.

With mounting pressure by international observers ahead of next week's polls, head of an African observer mission in Zimbabwe, Mr Marwick Khumalo has warned that he will not endorse next week's run-off if current levels of violence continue.

Mr Khumalo said it was government's responsibility to stop violence which erupted after the first round of elections. "It's very difficult to me to judge degree of the violence in terms of whether it's decreased or it has escalated," Mr Khumalo was quoted in media reports.

Meanwhile, South Africa's ruling ANC leader Mr Jacob Zuma said he did not expect a free presidential election run-off in Zimbabwe ahead of a meeting today between President Mbeki and Mr Mugabe.

Mr Zuma, who has taken a much tougher line on Zimbabwe than Mbeki, used his bluntest language to date on the election. "I think we'll be lucky if we have a free election," Mr Zuma told Reuters.

Mr Mugabe's regime recently ordered humanitarian groups to suspend work in the country, accusing them of helping his opponents.

Tensions are building up in Zimbabwe with violence reaching untold heights, while at the same time the country has more than 5 million people at risk of going hungry by early next year as production of staple maize in 2008 would decline, due to a mix of factors, including ongoing instability as well as pure general production related shortages.

Since March polls, Zimbabwe has recorded severe human rights violations with more than 60 people reported dead while tens of thousands are displaced.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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