MALAWI SHUNNING FROM ALTERNATIVE TAX EARNER
By: Khumbo Salanje (Citizen Journalist)
Date: November 9, 2018—Malawi
As countries in
the Southern Africa regions and around the world are legalizing the use of
Marijuana for industrial, medical and recreation purposes, questions arise to
whether Malawi government should consider legalizing Marijuana for industrial
purposes. Investors in industrial Marijuana have been- for a long time now-
expressing their concerns in the legal barriers against the production and
consumption of Marijuana either for industrial purposes or recreation purposes.
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| Legal Barrier—Malawi Police Confiscated Marijuana- Picture source, MW Nation. |
South Africa based Canadian Marijuana expert, Graham Mackintosh said
that the legal barriers in Malawi continue to deprive the country of an
alternative source of foreign currency. He expressed worry that Malawi is
failing to capitalize on its high quality Marijuana which is popular but also
expensive on the black market due to unfavorable legal environment.
 |
| Graham Mackintosh— Malawi failing to Capitalize on its high quality Marijuana- MW Nation. |
Malawi’s
Marijuana is popular because of its high quality and out-performs other kinds
grown in other countries. It is believed that its fame attract tourists who use
and want to try the famous Malawi Gold strain cultivated in the district of
Nkhotakota in country. The illegal plant is said to generate more money than
the main export cash crop-tobacco. However this money stays outside the economy
of the country since the business happens in a black market.
Legalizing
Marijuana in Malawi has the potential to boost the poor state of the country’s
economy because the generated money from selling Marijuana in black market will
be circulating in the country’s economy. Also, it could act as substitute to
the country’s main cash crop- tobacco which is sold at low prices and
accumulates less foreign currency due to its low demand as the World Health Organization is lobbying for a ban to tobacco cultivation in fight of high cancer
rates among the youth.
 | ||||
| Former Minister of Agriculture, Joe Manduwa | . |
 |
| Former Member of Parliament. Dr H. Ntaba. |
The issue of
legalizing weed in Malawi was first championed in the National Assembly by then
deputy minister of Agriculture Joe Manduwa who argued that the plant could be a
valuable alternative to tobacco. This was supported by Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba who
argued that the plant is non-addictive and it is an ideal for medicinal
purposes.
 |
| British High Commissioner- Michael Nevin |
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| Former Member of Parliament, Boniface Kadzamira |
In September 2015, the
British High Commissioner to Malawi, Michael Nevin and Member of Parliament,
Boniface Kadzamira reignited the issue suggesting the country should look up to
Marijuana as an alternative to the declining tobacco industry.
 |
| Vice President, Saulos Chilima championing Marijuana farming- Online. |
Currently, Vice President of Malawi Dr. Saulos Chilima
is championing the farming of industrial marijuana and legalization of the
plant. Speaking at a rally in Nkhotakota, he said Industrial Marijuana could
fetch more money on the international market which could boost Malawi’s
economy.
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