Malawi defends decision to ask Mike Tyson to be its cannabis ambassador

This week, Malawi's agriculture minister Lobin Low despatched a letter to Tyson -- who has been concerned within the cannabis trade within the US via numerous ventures -- inviting him to develop into the face of the nation's cannabis trade in a bid to entice traders and create more alternatives for tourism.

The transfer has raised controversy, with Malawian suppose tank the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) accusing the federal government of ignoring Tyson's previous convictions.The 55-year-old boxer was jailed in 1992 after being convicted of raping Desiree Washington, a Miss Black America contestant, in a lodge room. He was launched in 1995.Kondwani Munthali, performing director of the CPA, stated in an announcement despatched to CNN Friday that appointing a convicted rapist would be "wrong," including: "Yes he paid his debt three years he was in jail, but we are saying to be the face of a nation is something beyond reformatory. We would want (a) less controversial character than Tyson."However, Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson Gracian Lungu dismissed the criticism in an announcement to CNN Friday, saying: "Malawi as a nation believes that Mr. Tyson is a right and reformed person as he was released on parole." Lungu added that "the moral appeal by some quarters, to continue holding Mr. Tyson to a wall of moral incapacity doesn't hold water." Minister of gender, Patricia Kaliati, echoed Lungu's sentiments.She instructed CNN Friday that she didn't see there being an issue with the federal government's selection of ambassador as Tyson is a outstanding businessman with a superb data of the cannabis enterprise."It's about business, (and) economic business of cannabis," Kaliati stated, including: "We look for the prominent people, the decision makers who can say a thing which can be recognized internationally."She stated that his function would be targeted on enterprise and "he's not going to be working with the minister of gender on issues to do with women and children."