Dr Mahathir Mohamad is in Zimbabwe for a two-day official visit, state media said in Harare.

The former premier was set to meet President Robert Mugabe before delivering a public lecture on civil service reforms in the capital.

Mugabe will later in the day host a dinner for the visitor at his official residence, according to the programme.

Mahathir, who retired two years ago after 22 years in power, was a staunch ally of Mugabe, with the two men sharing a love of anti-Western rhetoric stoked by a history of British colonialism in both countries.

But while Mahathir steered his country from the economic backwaters to the mainstream of Asian development, Zimbabwe's economy is in the worst crisis of its history.

Timber gift row

A political row erupted in Malaysia last year following Mugabe's revelations that Mahathir had given him wall-panelling timber valued at RM100,000 (US$26,000) for a 25-bedroom mansion he is building near the capital Harare.

Malaysian opposition party leaders and rights groups expressed outrage at Kuala Lumpur's gift to Mugabe accusing the long-time African leader of driving his country to ruin and rigging elecions.

Mahathir will for Lesotho after the Harare visit to attend a Southern African International Dialogue (SAID).