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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Tesco to end trade with Zimbabwe | Tesco to end trade with Zimbabwe |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Supermarket chain Tesco has announced it will stop sourcing products from Zimbabwe while "the political crisis persists" there. | Supermarket chain Tesco has announced it will stop sourcing products from Zimbabwe while "the political crisis persists" there. |
| The retail giant buys about £1m ($1.9m) worth of goods a year, including vegetables, from Zimbabwe. | |
| Tesco said it was looking for other ways to support workers there. | Tesco said it was looking for other ways to support workers there. |
| The move comes a day after a Foreign Office minister urged firms trading with Zimbabwe to "look carefully" at their investments. | The move comes a day after a Foreign Office minister urged firms trading with Zimbabwe to "look carefully" at their investments. |
| The international community has expressed concern at the presidential election re-run, which saw Robert Mugabe claim victory as the sole candidate after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew citing pre-poll violence. | The international community has expressed concern at the presidential election re-run, which saw Robert Mugabe claim victory as the sole candidate after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew citing pre-poll violence. |
| We cannot ignore the escalating political crisis in Zimbabwe Tesco statement Analysis: UK trade with Zimbabwe | We cannot ignore the escalating political crisis in Zimbabwe Tesco statement Analysis: UK trade with Zimbabwe |
| The UN has urged African leaders to try to negotiate a solution to the Zimbabwe's crisis. | The UN has urged African leaders to try to negotiate a solution to the Zimbabwe's crisis. |
| Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch Brown told UK firms that they would find it harder to operate there as sanctions tightened. | Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch Brown told UK firms that they would find it harder to operate there as sanctions tightened. |
| 'Continued support' | 'Continued support' |
| Tesco said it had been "a difficult decision" to end its trade with Zimbabwe. | Tesco said it had been "a difficult decision" to end its trade with Zimbabwe. |
| "We cannot ignore the escalating political crisis in Zimbabwe, and the growing consensus in the international community - including from UK politicians on all sides - that further action must be taken to maximise the pressure for change," the company said in a statement. | "We cannot ignore the escalating political crisis in Zimbabwe, and the growing consensus in the international community - including from UK politicians on all sides - that further action must be taken to maximise the pressure for change," the company said in a statement. |
| It added that it was urgently seeking to ensure workers who supplied the retailer and their families were affected as little as possible. | It added that it was urgently seeking to ensure workers who supplied the retailer and their families were affected as little as possible. |
| Withdrawing our small amount of trade would greatly affect the workers and their extended families Waitrose | Withdrawing our small amount of trade would greatly affect the workers and their extended families Waitrose |
| "We cannot continue to support them through trade, but are urgently finding ways to support them by other means," Tesco said. | "We cannot continue to support them through trade, but are urgently finding ways to support them by other means," Tesco said. |
| The retailer had used its concern for Zimbabwean workers as a reason for maintaining its commercial ties with the troubled African nation. | The retailer had used its concern for Zimbabwean workers as a reason for maintaining its commercial ties with the troubled African nation. |
| Last week, it said it would be "irresponsible" to withdraw from the country. | Last week, it said it would be "irresponsible" to withdraw from the country. |
| Former Africa minister, Peter Hain MP, welcomed Tesco's decision. | Former Africa minister, Peter Hain MP, welcomed Tesco's decision. |
| "I hope it will give a lead to other British and global companies to freeze or suspend ties with Zimbabwe under Mugabe's tyranny," Mr Hain said. | "I hope it will give a lead to other British and global companies to freeze or suspend ties with Zimbabwe under Mugabe's tyranny," Mr Hain said. |
| "This is a decisive time when everybody and every institution in a position to take a stand should do so." | "This is a decisive time when everybody and every institution in a position to take a stand should do so." |
| Rival retailers Waitrose and Sainsbury's both buy fish from Zimbabwe. | Rival retailers Waitrose and Sainsbury's both buy fish from Zimbabwe. |
| Waitrose said it supported international efforts to restore democracy and to help the Zimbabwean population. | Waitrose said it supported international efforts to restore democracy and to help the Zimbabwean population. |
| "We believe our limited relationships with two Zimbabwean suppliers actually enhances these efforts rather than undermining them," Waitrose said. | "We believe our limited relationships with two Zimbabwean suppliers actually enhances these efforts rather than undermining them," Waitrose said. |
| "In addition, withdrawing our small amount of trade would greatly affect the workers and their extended families." | "In addition, withdrawing our small amount of trade would greatly affect the workers and their extended families." |