The president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, has paid a short visit to Zimbabwe for talks with President Mugabe on economic co-operation between their countries.

While the two leaders met, their ministers of finance, trade, energy and foreign affairs also held talks in Harare.

Speaking at the end of the visit, a Zimbabwean cabinet minister Nathan Shamuyarira said his country's diesel and electrical power problems had been discussed.

Zimbabwe is suffering its worst economic crisis for twenty years, with fuel shortages and the risk of power cuts because of a shortage of foreign currency.

President Mbeki's visit took place as preparations went ahead for a weekend referendum on Zimbabwe's proposed new constitution.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service