This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8223862.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
S Africa leader heads to Zimbabwe S Africa leader heads to Zimbabwe
(about 2 hours later)
South African President Jacob Zuma is to make his first visit to neighbouring Zimbabwe since being elected in May.South African President Jacob Zuma is to make his first visit to neighbouring Zimbabwe since being elected in May.
Activists hope Mr Zuma will push for key reforms and an end to alleged human rights abuses against political opponents of President Robert Mugabe. Activists hope Mr Zuma will push for an end to continued alleged human rights abuses against political opponents of President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Zuma's two-day visit comes amid renewed speculation about the health of Mr Mugabe, who is 85.Mr Zuma's two-day visit comes amid renewed speculation about the health of Mr Mugabe, who is 85.
Zimbabwe officials have denied reports that Mr Mugabe is ill, labelling them the product of "sick and evil minds".Zimbabwe officials have denied reports that Mr Mugabe is ill, labelling them the product of "sick and evil minds".
Mr Zuma is the current chair of the Southern African Development Community, the body which helped to broker a power-sharing deal which saw Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) join President Mugabe in government in February.Mr Zuma is the current chair of the Southern African Development Community, the body which helped to broker a power-sharing deal which saw Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) join President Mugabe in government in February.
President Zuma will be more vocal in terms of what we see as deviant behaviour Gwede Mantashe ANC spokesmanPresident Zuma will be more vocal in terms of what we see as deviant behaviour Gwede Mantashe ANC spokesman
The MDC has accused Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party over a range of issues connected to the deal, including most recently the unilateral appointment of the central bank governor and attorney general. The MDC has accused Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party of bad faith over a range of issues connected to the deal, including most recently the unilateral appointment of the central bank governor and attorney general.
But it also says MDC activists have suffered continued attacks and harassment since the MDC joined the government. It wants Mr Zuma to put pressure on Mr Mugabe to end the alleged attacks and harassment of MDC activists which have continued since the party joined the government.
'On track''On track'
Mr Zuma's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said everything was "on track" for him to meet the veteran Zimbabwean leader.Mr Zuma's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said everything was "on track" for him to meet the veteran Zimbabwean leader.
Zuma marks 100 days as presidentZuma marks 100 days as president
"There are no concerns because we have not received any official communication on the state of President Mugabe's health.""There are no concerns because we have not received any official communication on the state of President Mugabe's health."
A spokesman for Mr Zuma's ANC party said he planned to be more outspoken about Zimbabwe's problems - a contrast to the "quiet diplomacy" of his predecessor Thabo Mbeki.A spokesman for Mr Zuma's ANC party said he planned to be more outspoken about Zimbabwe's problems - a contrast to the "quiet diplomacy" of his predecessor Thabo Mbeki.
"President Zuma will be more vocal in terms of what we see as deviant behaviour," Gwede Mantashe told reporters."President Zuma will be more vocal in terms of what we see as deviant behaviour," Gwede Mantashe told reporters.
"If there is deviant behaviour, we will be more vocal... but we will still engage," he said."If there is deviant behaviour, we will be more vocal... but we will still engage," he said.
"What we want to see in Zimbabwe as the ANC, is to see what in our view is an economic and humanitarian crisis reversed.""What we want to see in Zimbabwe as the ANC, is to see what in our view is an economic and humanitarian crisis reversed."
Mr Zuma is also to see Mr Tsvangirai and open the Harare Agricultural Fair.Mr Zuma is also to see Mr Tsvangirai and open the Harare Agricultural Fair.
'No visible ill-health''No visible ill-health'
South Africa's Times newspaper on Wednesday claimed Mr Mugabe had been "secretly" whisked away to a hospital in the United Arab Emirates for specialist treatment.South Africa's Times newspaper on Wednesday claimed Mr Mugabe had been "secretly" whisked away to a hospital in the United Arab Emirates for specialist treatment.
But Zimbabwean officials strongly dismissed the claims and said Mr Mugabe was in good health and had been away on holiday.But Zimbabwean officials strongly dismissed the claims and said Mr Mugabe was in good health and had been away on holiday.
Reuters news agency reported that apart from meeting a special Venezuelan envoy on Wednesday, Mr Mugabe visited the family of a senior Zanu-PF official who died last week and "delivered a 20-minute speech while on his feet, showing no visible sign of ill-health".Reuters news agency reported that apart from meeting a special Venezuelan envoy on Wednesday, Mr Mugabe visited the family of a senior Zanu-PF official who died last week and "delivered a 20-minute speech while on his feet, showing no visible sign of ill-health".