THURSDAY, 10.30PM CLAIMS by the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union that some of the 1 480 farms recently designated by the government for redistribution to landless peasants are among the country’s most highly utilised and productive farms were on Thursday dismissed by the Minister of Land and Agriculture. Farms designated were either derelict or under-utilised land, […]

THURSDAY, 10.00AM: SANLAM MD Desmond Smith on Wednesday made the shock announcement of his immediate early retirement, apparently over “differences of emphasis” over the group’s strategic direction. When he was appointed to head the operations of the country’s second biggest life assurer four years ago, Smith was the group’s youngest-ever MD, and the first non-Afrikaner. […]

WEDNESDAY, 11.00PM ZIMBABWE’s Stock market continued its downward trend on Wednesday when it recorded yet another sharp loss, shedding 281 points to close at 8 384. Although the market remained active, it was weak, with declines in the share prices of most counters. The Harare bourse has been on a free fall for the past […]

THURSDAY, 3.30PM CONSERVATIVE PARTY leader Ferdi Hartzenberg, asked whether his party had approved of the murder of Chris Hani by one of its senior officials, replied with an anecdote about an unwelcome Christmas present: “My child gives me a Christmas present which I don’t like. I do not return it, but express my appreciation for […]

MALARIA WARNING The national health department on Thursday said 20 111 cases of malaria have been reported this year, which led to 61 deaths. The department warned holidaymakers to take precautions against malaria when they visit high-risk areas this summer. Deputy director of the department’s Communicable Disease Control Dr Rajendra Maharaj said high-risk areas for […]

THURSDAY, 2.40PM: IT took 163 minutes for South Africa to dismiss Australia for 133 in 38 overs in their opening World Series limited overs cricket match at the SCG on Thursday. After being bowled out at 200 in exactly 50 overs, it looked as if the South Africans were goners, but veteran offspinner Pat Symcox […]

THURSDAY, 10.00AM BLACK empowerment group New Africa Investments Limited is aiming to take “unassailable control”of Metropolitan Life in the current financial year, Nail MD Jonty Sandler said on Wednesday. Stadler was speaking at the unveiling of Nail’s results for the year to end September. Nail increased headline earnings 47% to 27,48c a share, or R127-million. […]

WEDNESDAY, 3.30PM A SOUTH African Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo formally signed an international convention banning anti-personnel mines in Ottawa, Canada, on Wednesday. Nzo, who came under criticism last year for hedging over the landmine ban, has since become a convert, praising those who lobbied to make the landmine convention a reality. South Africa was […]

WEDNESDAY, 10.00AM The aggressive new Internet services company M-Web has bought out the service provider PiX Internet, giving it the country’s second largest dial-up customer base less than six months after its launch. M-Web’s chief executive officer Antonie Roux says that the deal, for an undisclosed price, reflects a growing trend towards consolidation in the […]