I don't believe that the mentioned "African Gold Zimbabwe" is AFG, but the article does demonstrate rapid resurgence of E&P in Zimbabwe:

Mining Giants Plan Massive Diamond Prospecting

The Herald (Harare)

January 22, 2004
Posted to the web January 22, 2004

Harare

MINING giants, De Beers Zimbabwe Prospecting Limited and Circle Three Mining Corporation are proposing a massive diamond prospecting project that will see the two companies prospecting for the mineral in Gweru, Harare, Bulawayo and Kadoma mining districts.

The two mining companies intend to prospect for diamond in areas covering a total of 448 180 hectares.


Another company, African Gold Zimbabwe, has also undertaken to prospect for gold on two areas measuring 120 550 hectares within the Harare and Gweru mining districts.

De Beers Zimbabwe Prospecting Limited, Circle Three Mining Corporation and African Gold Zimbabwe have applied to the Mining Affairs Board for an exclusive prospecting order for 12 areas under the four mining districts.

In the latest issue of the Government gazette, the Mining Affairs Board said De Beers, Circle Three Mining and African Gold Zimbabwe intend to prospect for diamonds and gold over an area of approximately 568 730 hectares from the three areas.

"The applicants intend to prospect for diamond within the areas, which have been reserved against prospecting pending determination of this application.

"Prospecting authority is sought upon registered base mineral blocks within the reservation," read part of the notice.

One of the two diamond prospecting projects to be undertaken by Circle Three Mining measures 65 000 hectares and is bounded by a line commencing on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border approximating five kilometres.

All areas, which have been earmarked for prospecting are within the 15 000 hectares and 65 000 hectares range and are mostly in the traditional mineral bearing areas of the country.

The proposal to prospect for diamond in the country comes at a time when the US$41 million Murowa Diamond Mine has started to operate following the successful relocation of 141 families which were on the mining site.

Mining is one of the sectors which has been depressed over the last five years but some of the players in the industry have said investors should look at non-traditional minerals.

An example that is often given is that of platinum, which is fast becoming the world's most lucrative mineral.

The mining of diamond in Zimbabwe is also fast gaining pace and it is expected that some of the mining projects would create a lot of employment.

Relevant Links

Southern Africa
Mining
Zimbabwe

Having mentioned these last friday, I would like to mention these again now. These have already doubled in a week and will double again very soon.

News on 3 more mines yet to come very soon.

From UK analyst.com

At last our predictions about African Gold are starting to be vindicated. The company announced that it has been granted a 90 day option to buy the Konongo lease in the Ashanti belt in Ghana which already has a proven resource of 860,000 oz after only preliminary exploration. African also said that it could take on neighbouring areas and it has appointed industry heavy-hitter Adrian Lungan as its COO. We continue to maintain that in due course Cannacord will arrange for AfGold to buy 4 mines - this is just the first. We must apologise however for suggesting that the company will be undertaking a placing at 8p. It will be at 9p. African's shares jumped another 3.125p to 13p and are heading for 20p according to the sources who first put UK-Analyst onto this stock when it traded at sub 5p.

Price ticked up to 13-13.75 pence now.

Price ticked up to 13-13.75 pence now.

Price 13.5-14.0 pence now, should be seeing larger delayed buys coming through as delayed later.

Delayed BUY for 177,000 shares at 13.5 pence reported.

Delayed 250,000 BUY reported at 13.25 pence.

Positive Candidate (Medium term) - Jan 30, 2004
Has risen 1980% since the bottom on 7 Apr 2003 at 0.63. Is within a rising trend and continued advance within the current trend is indicated. On reactions back, there is support against the floor of the trend channel. RSI is, however, overbought. The stock can still rise further, and we should see a decreasing RSI before this is used as a negative signal. Positive volume balance strengthens the stock in the short term. The stock has support at p 1.26. High risk with an average difference between the lowest and the highest price of the month of 52%.

http://www.investtech.com/main/market.php?CompanyID=44102506&product=4

Positive Candidate (Short term) - Jan 30, 2004
Has risen 940% since the bottom on 30 Sep 2003 at 1.25. Is within a rising trend. Continued positive development within the trend channel is indicated. RSI is, however, overbought. The stock can still rise further, and we should see a decreasing RSI before this is used as a negative signal. Positive volume balance strengthens the stock in the short term. The stock has support at p 4.10. High risk with an average difference between the lowest and the highest price of the month of 52%.

http://www.investtech.com/main/market.php?CompanyID=44102506&product=4

Has been upgraded by Investtech from Neutral to Positive candidate.

Today's Leaders and Laggards:

African Gold carried on its recent good run, rising 9.6% to 14.25p. On 23 January, in response to speculation in the market including press comments, the company said shareholders should note that African is actively pursuing a number of new gold ventures in Africa. 'A detailed announcement will be made when due diligence is completed,' the company said.

Opportunity to add has presented itself with the current weakness in the price today.

Accumalated some more at 12.4 pence.

Initially bought in at 14.25 and topped up 2day 11.7. More news on the gold ventures in Africa to come. Good potential.

Do you think its going to go over 16p within this week or so!

It will deffinately hit 16p not sure about timescale. Still a lot of upper end buys going thru. my buy of 85044 just showed up now.

i bought 30 000 last friday when in was at 15p and at the end of the day in drop up to now! i'm still holding it cause if i sell it it might loss alot, i just hope it will not go down again. Btw i'm a newbie in this share thing, hehe :p