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Malawi defends tobacco expulsions | Malawi defends tobacco expulsions |
(20 minutes later) | |
Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has defended his decision to deport four senior foreign tobacco buyers for flouting minimum-price rules. | |
"For a long time I've been warning these exploitative colonialists to pay fair prices to farmers," he said. | "For a long time I've been warning these exploitative colonialists to pay fair prices to farmers," he said. |
The minimum prices were introduced for burley and flue-cured tobacco, Malawi's main export earners, last year. | The minimum prices were introduced for burley and flue-cured tobacco, Malawi's main export earners, last year. |
But buyers have resisted them, saying the global economic crisis has made them unrealistic. | But buyers have resisted them, saying the global economic crisis has made them unrealistic. |
The four expatriates, who included two chief executives, worked for three of the largest tobacco-buying companies in the southern African country. | The four expatriates, who included two chief executives, worked for three of the largest tobacco-buying companies in the southern African country. |
"I will not accept for my people to be exploited," said Mr Mutharika, who also serves as Malawi's agricultural minister. | "I will not accept for my people to be exploited," said Mr Mutharika, who also serves as Malawi's agricultural minister. |
The BBC's Joel Nkoma in the capital, Lilongwe, says it is not the first time that Mr Mutharika has lost his temper with the buyers. | The BBC's Joel Nkoma in the capital, Lilongwe, says it is not the first time that Mr Mutharika has lost his temper with the buyers. |
In May he stormed the tobacco-auctioning floors to vent his frustration that the minimum price was not being paid to farmers. | In May he stormed the tobacco-auctioning floors to vent his frustration that the minimum price was not being paid to farmers. |
It is estimated that more than 80% of Malawians are directly or indirectly employed by the tobacco industry. | It is estimated that more than 80% of Malawians are directly or indirectly employed by the tobacco industry. |
Last month, aid organisation Plan International issued a report about the plight of children working on the farms. | Last month, aid organisation Plan International issued a report about the plight of children working on the farms. |
It estimated that 75,000 children work on the estates and are exposed to high levels of nicotine poisoning. | It estimated that 75,000 children work on the estates and are exposed to high levels of nicotine poisoning. |