ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT BUYS INTO ASTRA

  The Zimbabwe government has bought 85 pct
  of the equity in &lt;Astra Corporation> for 25.5 mln dlrs from
  Netherlands-based &lt;Bommenede Houdstermaatschappij (Nederland
  BV)>, Astra announced.
      Astra owns five companies with interests in engineering,
  paint manufacture and the distribution of farm machinery and
  equipment, motor vehicles and earthmoving equipment.
      The company is now locally controlled with 80 pct of its
  equity owned by the government, 14 pct by the Dutch firm. A six
  pct stake was donated to the Astra Corporation Workers' Trust
  by the government and the Dutch company.
  

