Johannesburg- The international oil concern Shell is selling all of its activities in the troubled southern African country of Zimbabwe to the Engen Group, said media reports out of South Africa.

According to the economic magazine Business Day, the Engen Group is taking over Shell's portion of a joint venture with British Petroleum for an undisclosed sum.

Present in 17 African countries, the Engen Group is also taking over Shell's activities in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

The Engen Group is 80 per cent owned by Petronas of Malaysia and 20 per cent by the South African Worldwide Africa Investment Holding.

The magazine quoted Engen head Rashid Yusof as saying that "while Zimbabwe's economy has declined sharply over the last decade, it still has good infrastructure which we believe will form the basis of renewed economic growth, once the current political situation is resolved."

With hyperinflation, chronic shortages and energy crises Zimbabwe is suffering the greatest crisis in its history as an independent country. (dpa)