"I am quite certain they will negotiate and come to an agreement. We will work with them," he told reporters in Pretoria after bilateral discussions with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
The Zimbabwean government and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change recently agreed to enter into formal discussions, but "the process got a bit distracted by the Christmas and New Year holidays", Mbeki said.
"They will engage in formal negotiations, all that has been delaying them was the holiday period".
Mugabe has previously refused to engage in official talks with the MDC before the party drops a court challenge to his 2002 re-election.
Schroeder said he and Mbeki had discussed the Zimbabwean situation in great detail when they met at the Union Buildings in the morning.
"I made myself very clear as far as the acceptability of that regime is concerned," the chancellor said. "I also made it clear that we support the European position on Zimbabwe and the measures taken".
Mbeki said he was pleased that Schroeder had been raising the question of peace, democracy and the rule of law in Africa.
"Because obviously that is central to addressing all manner of problems here so that we can engage the issue of the struggle against poverty and under-development".
This approach also applied to the issue of Zimbabwe, the president said.
"Our task is to see what we can contribute to make sure that situation is changed as quickly as possible".
On criticism of South Africa's so-called quiet diplomacy towards its northern neighbour, Mbeki said: "Strong statements cannot be an aim in themselves".
Nevertheless, he stressed that South Africa had spoken out strongly and publicly on "any number" of occasions against what was happening in Zimbabwe.
"Twice in Zimbabwe, in public and in the presence of President (Robert) Mugabe, I've said: 'These things that you are doing are wrong'," he said.
"That (public condemnation) is not the problem. The problem is changing the situation so that we create a political and economic order of peace, democracy and development".
South Africa, Britain or any other country would not be able to solve Zimbabwe's problems. The people of that country had to achieve this themselves, Mbeki said.
But there would come a point, having mapped out a way of addressing the country's political and economic problems, that Zimbabweans would ask for outside help. He hoped that at this point, the world would respond, the president said.
Schroeder said his country was not in a position to "play an active part" in resolving Zimbabwe's problems. Once a process of democratisation was underway, however, Germany would be able to help Zimbabwe gain access to resources, extend bilateral assistance and support the lifting of sanctions.
Mbeki described relations between South Africa and Germany as "excellent in all respects".
This did not mean, however, that there was no room for improvement.
Schroeder agreed that in business, trade and economic relations between the two countries "nothing is as good as not to be improved upon". – Sapa.
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