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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe in February entered a power-sharing deal aimed at ending political violence and rescuing the economy from a decade of free fall driven by hyperinflation that left the local currency worthless.
Carson said Clinton would work with South Africa to ensure the deal is "fully implemented and that that country is able to return to democratic rule and its people allowed to have some opportunity for economic progress."
President Barack Obama's administration has reached out to long-time adversaries such as Iran and Cuba since taking office in January, seeking an improvement in ties.
Carson held a rare meeting with Mugabe a month ago on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Libya.
"My meeting was a little bit difficult, but we continue to try to make progress," he told reporters Thursday.
After the meeting, Mugabe branded Carson, a former ambassador to Harare, as an "idiot," according to Zimbabwean state media.
Obama in June met at the White House with Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwean opposition leader turned prime minister under the power-sharing deal, in a show of support.
South Africa's former president Thabo Mbeki negotiated the power-sharing deal. Mbeki had faced Western criticism while in office that he was too soft with Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe continuously since its independence from Britain in 1980.
Zuma has been seen as treading less softly, saying during last year's disputed elections that Zimbabweans were demanding change.
Carson said that the United States and South Africa "have much in common."
"The secretary will use this to strengthen an important relationship in South Africa, a country which is the engine of that region's growth," he said.
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Carson said Clinton would work with South Africa to ensure the deal is "fully implemented and that that country is able to return to democratic rule and its people allowed to have some opportunity for economic progress."
President Barack Obama's administration has reached out to long-time adversaries such as Iran and Cuba since taking office in January, seeking an improvement in ties.
Carson held a rare meeting with Mugabe a month ago on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Libya.
"My meeting was a little bit difficult, but we continue to try to make progress," he told reporters Thursday.
After the meeting, Mugabe branded Carson, a former ambassador to Harare, as an "idiot," according to Zimbabwean state media.
Obama in June met at the White House with Morgan Tsvangirai, the Zimbabwean opposition leader turned prime minister under the power-sharing deal, in a show of support.
South Africa's former president Thabo Mbeki negotiated the power-sharing deal. Mbeki had faced Western criticism while in office that he was too soft with Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe continuously since its independence from Britain in 1980.
Zuma has been seen as treading less softly, saying during last year's disputed elections that Zimbabweans were demanding change.
Carson said that the United States and South Africa "have much in common."
"The secretary will use this to strengthen an important relationship in South Africa, a country which is the engine of that region's growth," he said.
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