The crisis in Zimbabwe, which left the country's capital, Harare, without water yesterday, dominated talks yesterday between Bertie Ahern and South Africa's president Thabo Mbeki.
During an hour-long meeting, which ran significantly over time, the South African leader briefed the Taoiseach on his ongoing efforts to broker a deal.
President Mbeki is leading attempts to persuade Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe to hold elections and to adopt a new, democratic constitution.
However, Mr Mbeki is believed to have argued against the holding of parliamentary elections and a referendum on the same day, as some EU leaders have suggested.
The Zimbabwean leader, who up to now has ignored international protests, is facing pressure to improve government and reform the police.
However, the pace of the talks is understood to be slow, and while significant progress has been made in some areas, a final package is far from ready.
Speaking after his meeting with Mr Mbeki, Mr Ahern said: "We all continue to have grave concerns at the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.
"President Mbeki will be engaged within days on the final aspects of a deal. He is working extremely hard on it and, hopefully, some of the particular obstacles around will disappear."
Mr Ahern sidestepped a question from the South African media about the impact that a change of political leadership in South Africa could have on relations between the two countries.
The newly elected head of the African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, is favourite to replace Mr Mbeki when the latter's term ends in 18 months, even though he is currently facing corruption charges.
"We had a very good meeting and we look forward to working with him [Mr Mbeki] for the future, and for our countries' relationship to flourish and extend," Mr Ahern replied.
Meanwhile, Ireland is to share experience about creating training programmes for young workers, based on models funded in Ireland in the past by the European Union.
"This is an area where we need to strengthen our relationship," said deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who visited Ireland last year. The South African government, she said, "is in the process of reviewing its anti-poverty strategy and the issue of skills for young people is a major one".
Mr Ahern and the Minister for State for Overseas Development Aid, Michael Kitt, along with officials, later travelled to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
Today he will meet the country's president and prime minister and travel to a water treatment plant and hospital that have been beneficiaries of Irish aid.
More than €170 million of Irish aid will be spent in Tanzania over the next three years, which is one of nine sub-Saharan countries supported by Irish Aid.
"The focus of the Taoiseach's visit will be to see the tangible impact that Irish Aid-funded projects are having on communities in Tanzania," a Government spokesman said.
The Taoiseach's flight to Dar es Salaam was diverted to Maputo in Mozambique last night after atrocious weather in Tanzania caused concerns.
The aircraft took on board extra fuel at Maputo. Mr Ahern was greeted at the airport by the Tanzanian president, Jakayta Kikwete, on his arrival.
