JOHANNESBURG, August 8, 2008 (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki will travel to Zimbabwe on Saturday to meet with the country's political rivals as part of power-sharing talks, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

'He's going Saturday to meet the leaders of the political parties involved in the SADC-mandated talks facilitated by South Africa,' Ronnie Mamoepa told AFP on Friday, referring to the Southern African Development Community regional bloc.

He added Mbeki would meet Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, as well as the leader of a smaller MDC faction, Arthur Mutambara.

Mbeki is to return on Sunday, Mamoepa said.