Malawi court convicts 124 tobacco farmers

(Nyasa Times) A Malawian court has convicted and sentenced 124 tobacco farmers from the Central Region district of Mchinji for attempting to smuggle tobacco to neighbouring Zambia. The 124 were among a group of 170 growers arrested last Wednesday around 2am at Kapiri Trading Centre as they tried to illegally cross into Zambia via Nkanda using uncharted routes. ... Most Malawian tobacco farmers this year are turning to countries like Zambia and Mozambique to sell their leaf because buyers in these countries are offering prices that are way above those offered in Malawi. Continued