While the impact is looking serious for Zimbabwe, the drought could also hit southern Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia.
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has ramped up a drive to force all foreign-owned businesses to surrender majority control to black people.
Government spending in Zimbabwe is a big concern while disunity regarding black empowerment is discouraging investment, says Tendai Biti.
Opposition leader Michael Sata has been sworn in as Zambia’s president after an upset poll victory that ushered in a smooth handover of power.
Zimbabwe says it will not suspend any mining permits and exceptions may be made to laws requiring foreign miners to give majority stakes to locals.
Zimbabwe’s economy is on course to grow by 9.3% in 2011 due to a recovery in the key mining and agriculture sectors, Finance Minister Tendai Biti.
Zimbabwe’s MDC can grow the economy by 10% a year if it wins elections President Robert Mugabe wants held in 2011, the prime minister said on Sunday.
China signed nearly $700-million in loan deals with Zimbabwe on Monday, its biggest loan package to date.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is unlikely to be forced out by a popular uprising like those in Egypt and Tunisia, analysts said.
Zimbabwe’s police have seized cars belonging to Morgan Tsvangirai’s official escort and arrested his drivers for possessing police beacon lights.
Zimbabwe’s attorney general plans to set up a commission to investigate possible treason charges against locals over briefings with US diplomats.
Lawyers for Roy Bennett asked the Zimbabwe High Court on Monday to drop terrorism charges against him in a trial which has raised tension in Harare.
Zimbabwe’s Attorney General said the state is to have a key witness in the terrorism trial of Roy Bennett impeached for giving contradicting evidence.
