South Africa's new government today called on former president Thabo Mbeki to continue as the region's mediator in Zimbabwe's political crisis despite his ousting as president.
But a senior official with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party said Mr Mbeki's involvement was not needed now to break an impasse threatening to derail a power-sharing deal and the recovery of the African nation's shattered economy.
Mr Mbeki, a trouble-shooter in a series of African crises during nine years as president, brokered the September 15th deal between Mr Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai that is to establish a unity government.
Mr Mbeki's role was thrown into doubt, however, after his ruling ANC forced him to resign. Pressure for him to become involved again has grown as Mr Mugabe's party and the MDC argue over the allocation of cabinet posts.
"Mr. Mbeki's facilitation efforts in Zimbabwe have proven his dispassionate vision for a lasting political solution to the challenges facing Zimbabwe," new South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said in a statement.
"Accordingly, our government has full confidence in Mr. Mbeki's ability to build on the historic successes already made in the power sharing negotiations under his mediation."
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change had initially criticised the former South African leader as being too soft on Mugabe, but it now supports him continuing his 18-month mediation under a mandate from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community.
Reuters