Zimbabwe will face unprecedented upheavals, warns Zuma

The Sunday Times of South Africa reported that South Africa President Jacob Zuma has warned that neighbouring Zimbabwe will face "unprecedented upheavals" if pro-democracy reforms are not implemented.

Zuma reportedly warned that North Africa-style revolts were possible if progress on stalled reforms to the authoritarian-style of governance was not moved forward.

The paper said the warning was contained in a report handed to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and the other members of his unity government earlier this month, during a meeting of the Southern African Development Community in Zambia.

Mugabe, who stormed out of the Zambia meet, has fallen out with SADC, the guarantor of the deal that created the country's current ruling coalition. He is accused of continuing to use violence and violating the unity accord with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a reformist.

The 87-year-old president, said to be in failing health, also recently attacked Zuma - the official facilitator of the power- sharing agreement - calling him a "primitive leader."

But last week, Mugabe and his backers moved to fix their broken ties to SADC, ahead of a crucial summit of the regional body coming up next month in Namibia.

The SADC called the meeting to focus on the protracted political stalemate in Zimbabwe, as regional pressure on Mugabe grows.