Malawi expels foreign tobacco buyers

The Malawi government on Tuesday announced a deportation of four foreigners working for three tobacco companies, finally effecting its threats of expulsion of foreign tobacco buyers, for alleged continuing buying tobacco at low prices.

Malawi's Immigration Department Chief Elvis Thodi told state radio Malawi Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday that four expatriates working for Limbe Leaf, Alliance One and Premium TAMA tobacco companies had been issued with immediate deportation orders.

The four expelled expatriates include chief executive officers for Limbe Leaf and Alliance One, Kelvin Stainton and Collin Armstrong respectively. The other two affected expatriates are Vande Merwe of Limbe Leaf and Alex Mackay of Premium TAMA.

"The four people have been issued with deportation orders because they have been working against the government development agenda.. Their Temporary Employment Permits have since been revoked,"said Thodi without explaining the government agenda that the expatriates were contravening.