Wall Street Journal - August 8, 2009
Sarah Childress

In a seven-nation trip across Africa, Mrs. Clinton is scheduled to meet Saturday with South Africa's newly elected president, Jacob Zuma. Her visit is an attempt to bolster a bilateral relationship that has been strained over disagreements with the former government's HIV/AIDS policy and its reluctance to intervene more firmly in regional crises such as in neighboring Zimbabwe.

Mrs. Clinton said in remarks Thursday that she would speak with Mr. Zuma about how to address the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, strengthen what she called the "reform movement" and "mitigate against the negative effects of the continuing presidency of President [Robert] Mugabe."

Speaking in Pretoria, the South African capital, Mrs. Clinton said the Obama administration wants Africa to be a foreign-policy priority, and would rely on "the central leadership role that South Africa plays," according the Associated Press.

U.S. officials say Zimbabwe will be a priority in talks with Mr. Zuma and his cabinet this weekend. State Department officials ruled out any new aid commitments for Zimbabwe.

Instead, they say Mrs. Clinton will push South Africa to use its influence over Mr. Mugabe to have him honor the power-sharing pact he signed with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition party. That would help bring about change to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, U.S. officials say.

South Africa's previous president, Thabo Mbeki, was criticized for being too lenient with Mr. Mugabe. Mr. Mbeki led the mediation team between rival sides in Zimbabwe and ultimately persuaded Mr. Mugabe to sign a power-sharing pact. But the Zimbabwean leader has been reluctant to yield real power to Mr. Tsvangirai. Police officers continue to arrest members of Mr. Tsvangirai's party, and his supporters in rural areas are again being beaten by roving gangs.

Since taking office in May, Mr. Zuma hasn't indicated that he plans to alter South Africa's policy toward Zimbabwe. However, he has begun to change his nation's HIV/AIDS policies. Mr. Mbeki was criticized at home and abroad for questioning the link between HIV and AIDS. His health minister at the time suggested those with HIV take remedies of beetroot and garlic. Mr. Zuma's health minister, Barbara Hogan, has taken an aggressive stance on fighting the disease.

On Friday, Mrs. Clinton met former South African President Nelson Mandela at his foundation in Johannesburg and was given a tour of his personal archives.

Another issue to be discussed this weekend is how South Africa can help solve political instability in Madagascar. Mrs. Clinton is expected to express support for the talks between the former president of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, who was ousted this year in a coup, and his successor, Andry Rajoelina.

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