South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for fresh talks aimed at easing tensions within the year-old unity government.

President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai both greeted him at the airport, in a rare joint appearance by the feuding leaders.

The rivals formed a unity government in February last year under stiff international pressure, aiming to end an economic free fall and curb deadly political violence after disputed presidential elections in 2008.

They have deadlocked over a slate of key appointments, including the central bank governor and the attorney general, while Tsvangirai complains that his supporters remain the target of official persecution.

The unity government has staunched Zimbabwe's economic haemorrhaging, but made little progress in drafting a new constitution that is meant to guide the country toward new elections.