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South Africa's ruling African National Congress, ANC, and its alliance parties have called for an end to all violence and harassment of civilians in Zimbabwe.

In a statement issued after a two-day meeting in Midrand, outside Johannesburg, the alliance urged the leadership and the people of Zimbabwe assisted by Southern African Development Community to work together to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

The meeting, attended by senior members of the ANC, the South African Communist Party and the labour federation COSATU, was organised to forge a better working relationship between the partners.

The statement expressed grave concern about the worsening situation in Zimbabwe, including the arrest of the president and secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.

Participants pledged to mobilise solidarity for the Zimbabwean people and the region in general.

They also pledged to tackle the rising cost of food and fuel, as well as unemployment, poverty and inequality in the SADC region.