South Africa said on Sunday it would only hand over $30 million in agricultural aid to Zimbabwe after a unity government is formed, denying a Zimbabwe media report it had reversed a decision to hold back the help.
While South Africa and other southern African countries are helping Zimbabwe deal with a cholera epidemic, the regional power said last month it would only provide farming aid to its neighbour after a coalition government was formed.
The move was seen by many as South Africa's first punitive measure against Zimbabwe, which is battling food shortages, and a sign of frustration at its neighbour’s failure to enforce a stalled power-sharing agreement and stem an economic crisis.
In rare comments about Zimbabwe, Mozambique's president added pressure on the parties to form a unity government, according to a Reuters report.
"Under the present conditions of Zimbabwe, there is no ideal alternative to implementing this agreement (and) both sides should set up a power sharing government without further delay," Armando Guebuza said in a speech to diplomats in Maputo.
Some analysts say South Africa and other African nations have been too soft on President Robert Mugabe and want to see more regional pressure on him to break a political impasse.
Zimbabwe's state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper quoted Agriculture Minister Rugare Gumbo as saying farming inputs like staple maize seed, fertiliser and fuel forming part of the 300 million rand South African package had arrived.
"The South African government has sent a consignment of agricultural inputs to Zimbabwe under its 300 million rand farming support facility," the paper said.
But a spokesman for South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said South Africa had not reversed its stance.
"We said we would be able to help with agricultural assistance worth about 300 million rand once a new government has formed, and that has not changed," said Thabo Masebe.
"In parallel, there have been efforts to assist with the humanitarian crisis so that may be what they are referring to."
Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed the power-sharing pact on September 15 but the deal has been unravelling over disagreements about the control of ministries.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe has sunk deeper into crisis. Hyper-inflation means prices double every day and a cholera epidemic has killed more than 1,100 people.
South African is leading the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) in providing urgent humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe.
Western leaders blame Mugabe for the crisis and have called on him to step down. He says economic sanctions are at fault, and has vowed "never to surrender" to what he says are efforts to topple him.
The move was seen by many as South Africa's first punitive measure against Zimbabwe, which is battling food shortages, and a sign of frustration at its neighbour’s failure to enforce a stalled power-sharing agreement and stem an economic crisis.
In rare comments about Zimbabwe, Mozambique's president added pressure on the parties to form a unity government, according to a Reuters report.
"Under the present conditions of Zimbabwe, there is no ideal alternative to implementing this agreement (and) both sides should set up a power sharing government without further delay," Armando Guebuza said in a speech to diplomats in Maputo.
Some analysts say South Africa and other African nations have been too soft on President Robert Mugabe and want to see more regional pressure on him to break a political impasse.
Zimbabwe's state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper quoted Agriculture Minister Rugare Gumbo as saying farming inputs like staple maize seed, fertiliser and fuel forming part of the 300 million rand South African package had arrived.
"The South African government has sent a consignment of agricultural inputs to Zimbabwe under its 300 million rand farming support facility," the paper said.
But a spokesman for South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said South Africa had not reversed its stance.
"We said we would be able to help with agricultural assistance worth about 300 million rand once a new government has formed, and that has not changed," said Thabo Masebe.
"In parallel, there have been efforts to assist with the humanitarian crisis so that may be what they are referring to."
Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed the power-sharing pact on September 15 but the deal has been unravelling over disagreements about the control of ministries.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe has sunk deeper into crisis. Hyper-inflation means prices double every day and a cholera epidemic has killed more than 1,100 people.
South African is leading the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) in providing urgent humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe.
Western leaders blame Mugabe for the crisis and have called on him to step down. He says economic sanctions are at fault, and has vowed "never to surrender" to what he says are efforts to topple him.
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