Mbeki admits Zimbabwe failure

Mr Mbeki is reluctant to criticise President Mugabe

South African President Thabo Mbeki has, for the first time, admitted failure in his efforts to avoid a crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

We've got to find a way of getting out of this crisis, it is critical

Thabo Mbeki

Mr Mbeki told the BBC's Hardtalk programme that time was running out for Zimbabwe and admitted that so far President Robert Mugabe had not listened to him during their repeated meetings in the past 18 months.

Mr Mbeki said that South Africa could not afford a complete economic collapse in Zimbabwe.

"We've got to find a way of getting out of this crisis, it is critical," he said.

"There is a land problem in Zimbabwe, there is a need for land redistribution, but it must be handled differently, without violence, without conflict, within the context of the law - bearing in mind the interests of all Zimbabweans, both black and white," he said.

Commonwealth talks

A group of Commonwealth foreign ministers are due to attend talks in Nigeria next Monday in an effort to normalise the poor relations between Britian and Zimbabawe over the land issue.

Mr Mbeki said he was hopeful ministers would help find a solution.

The land reform issue has split Zimbabweans

Mr Mbeki's so-called "quiet diplomacy" towards Zimbabwe has been criticised as political and economic unrest have rocked Zimbabwe over the past 18 months since a government-backed programme of land seizures began.

President Mugabe has repeatedly said economic problems will not deter him from acquiring thousands of mainly white-owned commercial farms for redistribution.

Serious food shortages are predicted in Zimbabwe later this year and the country faces deep economic problems.

Inflation and unemployment rates stand at more than 60% and more than 60% of Zimbabweans now live below the poverty line.