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By Kerstin Gehmlich and Kathrin Schich
BERLIN, April 22 (Reuters) - South African ruling party leader Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday Africa must send a mission to Zimbabwe to end a delay in issuing election results, which he called unacceptable.
In his toughest comments yet on the three-week delay in announcing results of a presidential vote, Zuma told Reuters:
"It's not acceptable. It's not helping the Zimbabwean people who have gone out to ... elect the kind of party and presidential candidate they want, exercising their constitutional right."
Zuma has made several forthright comments on the election delay, distancing himself from South African President Thabo Mbeki, the designated regional mediator in Zimbabwe, who has long insisted on a discreet approach he calls "quiet diplomacy".
Zuma made clear he was talking about a new initiative in addition to Mbeki's mediation and said the crisis was affecting South Africa.
The South African president, who lost the leadership of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to Zuma last December, has been criticised at home and abroad for playing down the gravity of Zimbabwe's electoral deadlock. "I don't think the constitution says: 'If you like, you can hold the results'," Zuma told Reuters in Berlin. "The electoral commission must issue the results because it is actually destroying its own credibility as an institution that is supposed to be neutral."
Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe and that the veteran president's 28-year rule is over.
There has also been a delay to a partial recount of votes from a parallel parliamentary election, in which Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party lost its majority for the first time. The recount could overturn the MDC victory in that poll.
MEDIATION
"At this point in time ... I imagine that the leaders in Africa should really move in to unlock this logjam," Zuma said.
"Concretely this means African countries should identify some people to go in there, probably talk to both parties, call them and ask them what the problem is, as well as the electoral commission."
Zuma has gradually expanded his power and influence at the expense of Mbeki since toppling him in December and analysts say he is capitalising on Mbeki's unsuccessful mediation to boost his own image, tarnished by a coming corruption trial.
"When I say leaders should go (to Zimbabwe), I'm saying that we are fully aware that Mbeki is the mediator," Zuma said.
"But ... what I'm saying when I say other leaders should come, is that ... given the gravity of the situation, we should add other leaders to assist what Mbeki is doing in Zimbabwe."
"I think it's important that you have ... people going there, either sent by SADC (the Southern African Development Community) or by the AU (African Union) to talk and help resolve the matter," he said.
SADC said more than a week ago that the results should be released expeditiously. The AU this week added its voice to a chorus of international calls for the outcome to be announced.
The opposition and Western governments including former colonial ruler Britain have accused Mugabe of trying to rig both the parliamentary and presidential polls and of launching a campaign of violence to intimidate opposition supporters.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa on Monday denied MDC reports that 10 opposition activists had been killed in a government crackdown since the elections.
The Zimbabwean crisis has brought millions of economic migrants to South Africa and at times dented the rand currency.
"We have been affected by the situation in Zimbabwe," Zuma said. "That's part of the reason we're engaged ... there is a concrete, practical impact ... on the South African situation."
Turning to domestic issues, Zuma said an electricity crisis could lead to "a slight slowdown of the economy".
South Africa is struggling with a power crisis that has forced state utility Eskom to implement nationwide power cuts and which led to a five-day shutdown of the key mining industry in January, pushing up prices for precious metals.
Zuma, who is frontrunner to succeed Mbeki as president when he steps down next year, said he was not troubled by his corruption trial, due to start in August.
"I'm not worried at all. There are laws to deal with the matter," he said. (Editing by Barry Moody and Catherine Evans) (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)
