Zimbabwe's leaders have agreed to a "package of measures" to help rescue its fragile unity government, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.

Regional mediator Zuma met President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in Harare on Wednesday and Thursday to solve problems that risked unravelling a power-sharing deal meant to rebuild Zimbabwe from economic ruin.

"I am very encouraged by the spirit of cooperation displayed by the leaders and all the parties. The parties have agreed to a package of measures to be implemented concurrently as per the decision of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) trioka in Maputo," Zuma said at a briefing, flanked by bitter adversaries Mugabe and Tsvangirai.

"I believe that the implementation of this package will take the process forward substantially."

Negotiators from Mugabe's Zanu-PF and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change would meet again on March 25, 26 and 29 to deal with "outstanding matters", he said.


Reuters