Economy - The Government's Diamond Policy, seeking to ensure meaningful contribution of the gems to economic development, is expected to receive Cabinet approval next week, a senior official said in Harare this week. Secretary for Mines and Mining Development Mr Prince Mupazviriho said the policy which dwells on beneficiation and value addition was ready and awaiting Cabinet approval.

Emergency operations - The National Health Care Trust of Zimbabwe has donated equipment worth over US$50 000 to Government for national emergency operations. Speaking at the handover ceremony recently, Deputy Minister for Health and Child Welfare Dr Douglas Mombeshora lauded the commitment by health organisations in rehabilitating the health sector. He said the donation will go a long way in ensuring swift deliveries of services in times of disaster.

Football - Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui is widely expected to pick star striker Didier Drogba for the World Cup 2014 qualifiers clash against national soccer team Taifa Stars in Abidjan on June 2. The EUFA Champions League winner with Chelsea has pledged his future to the Ivory Coast until the 2014 World Cup. Drogba will be 36 by the time the Brazil finals arrive, which could be his third World Cup.

Infrastructure development in and around Delmas is boosting economic activity in this Mpumalanga town and has led to a shortage of residential rental accommodation. Rental units are in high demand among construction workers and professional contractors at the Kusile power station and a new cement factory, says Koos Pretorius, who has recently opened a new RealNet franchise in Delmas.

Instant Accounting solution - First National Bank's Instant Accounting solution which enables business owners to produce full management accounts using information pulled automatically from their bank statements has undergone a major face-lift in recent months, aimed at making it more user friendly for the small business owner. When it was launched in 2008, Instant Accounting was the first product of its kind to be offered by a bank in South Africa. It is still the only product of its kind which uses data directly from the customer's bank statements and eliminates the need for any manual file downloads or imports.

The Southern African Marketing Research Association (SAMRA), has announced the appointment of Leonie Vorster as its new CEO. Formerly the MD of Evolutions Research Solutions, Vorster is also a former SAMRA chair, council member and accredited researcher.

Mastercard, Heineken - Though handlers of the brand argued that MasterCard was not expecting anything from the partnership, except to use it to celebrate with their Nigerian customers, who were passionate about the game of football, it was obvious that the relationship would achieve more than that. This is because it has brought together patrons of the brand and people who had nothing to do with it. For the existing customers, it turned out to be a bonding platform that would increase loyalty while it beckoned on new comers to think of MasterCard.

Reinsurance agency - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission promises to float a reinsurance agency with a capital outlay of $300 million to encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the West Africa sub region. The agency will provide a window of reinsurance to the insurance industry as well as mitigate the political risk to FDIs in the sub region. The $300 million is expected to underwrite an exposure level of $1 billion.

Central Bank of Nigeria - Obinna Chima writes on the need to allow the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), maintain its autonomy, so as to effectively discharge its monetary policy objectives and other special objectives. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and members of the National Assembly have been at daggers drawn over the submission of the Bank's proposed revenue and expenditure for this year.

Mobile health in Africa and the Middle East is developing quickly, but there are differences in drivers and characteristics of the 'mHealth' models employed in each of these areas, according to a new report from Pyramid Research. The report, released Wednesday, examines the mobile network operator-backed mobile health services model in the Middle East and highlights the best practices that have helped operators in this region expand the reach of healthcare access.

The controversial painting showing South Africa's President Jacob Zuma’s exposed genitals has continued to cause deep divisions in South Africa. There were several dramatic twists on Tuesday. The 1.85 metre-high acrylic on canvas painting, entitled “The Spear”, was damaged by two vandals who painted over it and the Goodman Gallery, where the painting is housed, has been temporarily closed. The gallery management has now expressed concern that its staff, as well as public visitors, are at risk.

Egyptians vote in historic presidential election Wednesday - Some 50 million eligible voters in Egypt head to the polls Wednesday to elect a new president. PANA reports that long queues were seen at polling stations long before voting began at 8am local time. The voters will be casting their ballots for one of 12 candidates vying to succeed ousted president Hosni Mubarak. There were reports of tight security at polling stations across the country, with police officers and soldiers overseeing the procedure.

Football Cape Town International Challenge - Nigeria's national Under-20 football team, the Flying Eagles, has arrived in South Africa ahead of its Thursday's opening match against Ghana in the Cape Town International Challenge. The Flying Eagles are billed to play the second game of the opening day, following the curtain raiser between host South Africa and Argentina.

World Health Organization African Region - The number of wild poliovirus (WPV) cases in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region dropped from 657 in 2010 to 350 in 2011, representing a 47% decline, according to the 2011 report on “Eradicating Polio in the African Region”, released on Wednesday in Brazzaville, Congo, by the WHO Regional Office for Africa. The figure denotes a 54% decline from the 650 cases reported globally in 2010, a statement issued by the Regional Office on the report, and made available to PANA in Lagos, Nigeria, said.

Climate change impact - As negotiations continue at the UN climate talks in Bonn, Germany, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) has emphasised that there must be a greater focus and support for farmers in poor countries to adapt to the impact of an already changing climate. 'Agriculture is the lifeline and mainstay of livelihoods for three out of four Africans, and therefore adaptation to climate change in this critical sector is not an option but a necessity,” Group’s spokesperson Seyni Nafo of Mali said late Tuesday.

Education - Isaro Foundation, a local NGO, will establish electronic or digital libraries in secondary schools countrywide in a bid to improve reading and writing skills among students, according to the organisation. We have so far shipped about 4000 middle and high school students' books such as novels and short story books. Jean Leon Iragena, the foundation's CEO, told The New Times yesterday that his organisation has been shipping books from the US, but this had proved costly because of transportation charges, hence resorting to electronic material.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has flagged off voter education in Benue State aimed at building a set of young democratic Nigerians for entrenchment of democratic culture and practice in the country.

Nigeria Union of Journalist - President Goodluck Jonathan is to open the 2012 delegates conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the union, Mr Gbenga Onaiyega, said. Onaiyega made the announcement in Abuja on Tuesday at a news conference on the NUJ delegates conference, slated for May 25 in Abuja.

Wednesday's forex rates for CFA franc - Following are Wednesday's exchange rates for the CFA franc issued by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), according to a bulletin released by the Libreville-based institution:

Tanzania's forex rates on Wednesday - Following are foreign exchange rates for the Tanzanian shilling on Wednesday: