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By Paul Simao

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 17 (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki travels to Zimbabwe on Thursday to meet officials of the ruling ZANU-PF and main opposition parties after reports that a deal to end a political crisis was imminent.

Mbeki has been mediating talks between Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's government and the Movement for Democratic Change for nearly a year at the urging of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional grouping of 14 nations.

"President Mbeki will visit Zimbabwe within the context of the mandate bestowed upon him by SADC in March 2007 to assist the government and people of Zimbabwe to find a political solution to their political challenges," South Africa's department of foreign affairs said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern suggested this week there had been a breakthrough in the negotiations and an agreement that would pave the way for free elections in March in Zimbabwe was only days away.

Ahern made his comments to reporters after a briefing by Mbeki in the South African capital Pretoria.

South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad told reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday it seemed that all substantial issues in the Zimbabwe talks had been resolved and it was the timing of the agreement that was in question.

Prospects of a deal have bolstered hopes that Zimbabwe will be able to hold elections, due in March 2008, and take steps to pull the once prosperous nation out of a deep economic slide.

Zimbabweans are struggling with inflation of more than 8,000 percent and chronic shortages of food and fuel. Thousands cross illegally into South Africa every day to look for food and work.

The discussions between Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the MDC have stalled several times, prompting some in the MDC to demand that the elections be delayed.

The MDC said on Wednesday it planned to protest next week against the economic situation and to press for a new constitution it says will guarantee the elections are free and fair.

Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, has vowed to run for another five-year term despite widespread accusations that his government has abused human rights, rigged previous elections and destroyed the economy. (Editing by Muchena Zigomo and Robert Woodward)

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