Zimbabwe will not charge American dentist Walter Palmer for killing its most prized lion because he had obtained legal authority to conduct the hunt, a cabinet minister said.

Two British tourists died when an elephant charged them in western Zimbabwe, the British embassy in Harare said on Monday.

Foreign big game hunters bid $1.5m (€1.2m) to shoot leopards, lions, elephants and buffaloes in Zimbabwe this year, the state media reported yesterday.

Zimbabwe’s split ruling party has postponed the launch of its general election campaign for a week to select two remaining candidates.

Six white farmers were due to appear in court in Zimbabwe today accused of defying government orders to abandon their homes.