ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe will soon probe foreign-owned firms to establish their level of compliance with a law requiring them to sell at least a 51 percent shareholding in their Zimbabwean operations to locals, an official said on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe will soon probe foreign-owned firms to establish their level of compliance with a law requiring them to sell at least a 51 percent shareholding in their Zimbabwean operations to locals, an official said on Tuesday.

Gold miner Mwana Africa's Zimbabwe mine output has risen to a monthly average of 4,500 ounces, outstripping its targeted annual production rate, company executives said on Friday.

The drought, which started in the fall of 2010 and hit eight provinces, has already touched more than 44 million people and cost the agriculture industry $4.5 billion,

Zimbabwe again hinted it might show flexibility in its stance towards foreign mining companies, with a government official saying a law forcing them to surrender 51 percent stakes to local people was an aspiration, not a hard target.

Impala Platinum, the world's second-largest producer of the precious metal, said on Thursday a Zimbabwe government threat to remove the licence of its unit in the country Zimplats' had fallen away.

Zimbabwe has no intention to cancel the mining licenses of foreign mining groups and will continue talks with some miners over a law requiring them to give Zimbabweans a 51 percent stake in their local holdings, the country's mines minister said on Wednesday.

Mining projects worth $260 million were approved in the first half of 2011, over triple the same period last year, the president of the country's chamber of mines said on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe is in talks with mining firms that have requested more time to table their plans to transfer majority ownership in their local operations to black investors in the country, the state-run Herald newspaper said on Friday.

The Zimbabwean unit of Impala Platinum, the world's second-largest producer of the precious metal, said the government had taken steps to revoke its operating licence and it remained in talks with authorities.

The Zimbabwe unit of Impala Platinum, the world's second largest producer of the precious metal, said on Thursday that the Zimbabwe government had taken steps to revoke its operating license but it remained in talks with authorities.

Zimbabwe's government is threatening more than 50 foreign-owned mining companies with the loss of their licenses after they allegedly failed to submit acceptable indigenisation and empowerment plans.

Robert Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, has prostate cancer which has spread to other organs.

In a fiery message broadcast on Syria-based television channel on Thursday, the fugitive Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi vowed to come back and defend his country from the ‘colonial power’.

American Dwight Phillips reclaimed the world long jump title on Friday, leaping 8.45 meters on his second and final valid attempt to see off the challenge of Australian Mitch Watt.

A government crackdown on anti-Museveni protesters in April led to the deaths of at least nine people.

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Zimbabwe's foreign minister said his country will not recognize the Libyan group’s rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate ruling entity.

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A decree by Zimbabwe's government that foreign mining companies must submit plans for turning over majority control of their operations to locals has divided top officials into supporters and opponents.

Zimbabwe has reduced penalties for foreign companies that violate a government mandate to sell a majority of their shares to locals, according to a government notice obtained on Thursday.