HARARE -President Jacob Zuma's envoy Marc Maharaj arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for the second time in as many weeks as the South African leader  steps up his mediation efforts ahead of the Southern African Development Community meeting in Namibia.

The SADC meeting is scheduled to take place on August 16. Zuma, the bloc's official mediator in Zimbabwe, is expected to brief the summit on the problems bedeviling the Harare unity government.

Maharaj arrived in the country Tuesday, diplomatic sources said yesterday, adding that the South African envoy was yet to secure any meetings with Zimbabwe's top political leaders.

The sources said that although last week he managed to meet the three principals, nothing was concluded.

Lindiwe Zulu, spokesman for the team appointed by Zuma to facilitate dialogue in Zimbabwe confirmed the visit by the veteran ANC stalwart, but could not disclose the purpose of the visit.

"Maharaj is the best person to comment on that, since he is in Zimbabwe," Zulu said. "This is his second visit there and is a follow up to his last visit."

Maharaj was appointed alongside Zulu and Charles Nqaqula, by Zuma to facilitate the interparty talks between the two factions of MDC and ZANU-PF.

Since the setting up of the inclusive government last year, the three parties have haggled on key appointments of key government officials in government which has strained the pact.

No comment could be obtained from both Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe's offices last night.

By Zimonline