ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told delegates at a Zanu-PF national conference on Thursday that his party would assist Zimbabwe's ruling party retain power at the next elections.

"We are willing to assist in coming up with election messages and strategies that would deliver victory. You should now start sending the materials to us so that we could work on them and we add something to it," Mantashe said.

Secretaries-general of Southern Africa's former liberation movements were invited to address the conference.

While all other former liberation movements pledged solidarity with Zanu-PF, only the ANC offered to give assistance during elections.

Mantashe said: "The ANC wishes to affirm her commitment to being a good and trustworthy neighbour to this fellow liberation movement."

Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said: "That is a good gesture from our longtime friends and we would, as a party, look into the issue and work with ANC in the best possible manner."

Mantashe's remarks took many by surprise, especially because, on his last visit to Zimbabwe, he accused Zanu-PF of interfering in internal ANC politics by influencing ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

The remarks also seem to contradict President Jacob Zuma's tough stance on Mugabe.

Zuma is the mediator between Zanu-PF and the two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Some politicians within Zanu-PF, such as Jonathan Moyo, have criticised Zuma's mediation team.