Tesco said it won’t stock Zimbabwean products as long as the political crisis persists in the country.

Supermarket giant Tesco has today (1 July) revealed it is to stop buying products from Zimbabwe “as long as the political crisis persists in that country.”

In a statement, the retailer said the decision had been “difficult to take,” however it could not ignore the escalating political situation.

Tesco currently sources products worth £1 million per year from the African state.

Today’s announcement follows the Foreign Office’s call for British companies to consider their investments in Zimbabwe after President Robert Mugabe was sworn in for a sixth term as President amidst controversy.

“We have to date sought to balance wider political considerations against a desire to support our suppliers in Zimbabwe and enable them to support the workers who depend on that trade for their livelihoods,” Tesco said.

“However, 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 it places a very high priority on ensuring the decision does least harm to Zimbabwean workers and their dependents, and reinforced that it is looking for other ways to support them.

“We will keep this situation under review. Our aim is to re-engage with our suppliers and their workers once stability, and an internationally-recognised regime, have returned to the country,” Tesco added.

By Natasha Piscitelli