Welcome to the MWEB Africa Blog Zim rivals set to begin negotiations Negotiators from Zimbabwe's opposition and ruling party were expected to head to South Africa on Tuesday for the first round of talks aimed at ending the country's months-long political crisis. A day after veteran President Robert Mugabe and long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai signed a deal agreeing on the framework of the talks, their representatives were due to gather at an undisclosed venue under mediation overseen by South African President Thabo Mbeki. Posted : 2008-07-22