ZIMBABWE GOVERNMENT BUYS INTO ASTRA The Zimbabwe government has bought 85 pct of the equity in <Astra Corporation> for 25.5 mln dlrs from Netherlands-based <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.