Zuma tells Zimbabwean leaders to get along

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- South African President Jacob Zuma told Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to end his "deviant behavior" and work to make the power-sharing government work.

Zuma, chairman of the Southern Africa Development Community, was in Harare, Zimbabwe, Thursday for his first state visit, The Times of London reported. SADC monitors the power-sharing governance agreement between Mugabe and his Zanu party, and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change.

In his effort to end the political crisis that has plagued South Africa's neighbor, Zuma has said he would be tougher than his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, criticized for his "quiet diplomacy."

"President Zuma will be more vocal in terms of what we see as deviant behavior," Gewde Mantashe, African National Congress secretary general, said.

Such "deviant behavior" would include the violent presidential run-off election last year and continued harassment of Tsvangirai's allies, Mantashe said.

Zuma's visit was clouded by doubt Wednesday after it was revealed Mugabe flew out of the country earlier this week for medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates, the Times reported. Zimbabwe's state-run media reported Mugabe was on a family vacation.

All sides in Zimbabwe must understand they don't have the "luxury of adolescent behavior," Mantashe said. "You must be more mature. You must engage."