Thabo Mbeki, South African president, held talks with Robert Mugabe, his Zimbabwean counterpart, on Thursday amid signs that the former’s efforts to mediate in his neighbour’s political crisis are nearing a climax.

It was the first time the two had met outside multinational summits since regional leaders asked Mr Mbeki to mediate between Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change seven months ago.