JOHANNESBURG: 

For peace: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe (left) shakes hands with Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition, at the signing of an MoU in Harare on Monday. pic/ap

Talks between Zimbabwe's ruling and opposition parties were set to begin in South Africa's capital yesterday, in a first step toward resolving the country's myriad problems.

Bitter rivals President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed to formal talks about sharing power to end Zimbabwe's crisis, deepened by three months of state-sponsored electoral violence.

The talks were to start at a secret location, said Mukoni Ratshitanga, spokesman for mediator President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.

Tsvangirai, in an open message to Zimbabweans, said yesterday the agreement "offers the most tangible opportunity in the past 10 years to improve the lives of our fellow citizens". However, he cautioned "our signatures alone do not guarantee that we will be able to make the most of this opportunity".

The agreement includes a key opposition demand for an end to the political violence that has killed dozens and send tens of thousands fleeing from their homes.