UN Commission Chief in Zimbabwe
By Violet Gonda
19 July 2008

African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping flew to Harare on Saturday, to hold separate meetings with the main political parties in Zimbabwe. The nature of the discussions was not disclosed to the media but sources said it will be a briefing on the pre-dialogue talks.

Zanu PF and the two MDC formations are now expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday.

Last week MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai refused to sign the MOU citing ongoing state-sponsored violence and the need for the African Union to clarify on the issue of an expanded mediation effort.

Ping met South African President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria Friday to discuss the Zimbabwean crisis. UN envoy Haile Menkerios and George Chikote, Angola's deputy foreign minister also attended the meeting in South Africa.

It is reported that the AU, SADC and UN will dispatch a reference group to assist Mbeki who was chosen by SADC as the main mediator on the Zimbabwe crisis.