Parliament Thursday unanimously gave Lilongwe South lawmaker Peter Dimba a go-ahead to draft two private members bills to legalise the regulated cultivation, production, possession, distribution and use of the locally produced variety of chamba.
Contributing to the debate on the motion, Members of Parliament (MPs) noted that Malawi stands to benefit a lot from the legalisation of regulated cultivation of chamba.
According to Dimba, the local chamba, also known as ‘Malawi Gold’, has proven to have commercial viability and economic benefits that could boost the local economy.
The two bills seek to amend the Cannabis Regulations Act in order to allow for the proper regulation of the locally produced variety of cannabis sativa.
The bill also seeks to iron out other operational challenges currently being met by the industry in the production of cannabis.
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Further, the bills intend to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act to allow for the proper regulation of the local variety of cannabis.
According to Dimba, Malawi stands to get $200 million from chamba exports in the initial years of the trade before the amount could grow to around $700 million per annum, which is almost double what the country is getting from top forex earner, tobacco.
He was quick to note that the chamba he is promoting is for industrial and medicinal use and not for recreational purposes.
Thyolo Central MP Ben Phiri supported the motion, saying Malawi has been “sitting on gold” for a long time.
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Phiri said it is unfortunate that the country has over the years been burning forex through the torching of chamba seized from producers.
But Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda, while supporting the motion, cautioned against the dangers of chamba, saying the people that stopped Malawi from growing chamba did not just do that for the sake of it.
“It must be licensed. It must be controlled and this must be understood. If we grow chamba the way maize is grown, this country may actually face more dangers.
“I know I may not excite many people, but I speak also on behalf of the government,” Chimwendo Banda said.
Dedza South MP Ismail Onani said the production of chamba should favour local Malawians by ensuring that the people that send them to Parliament have money in their pockets.
Mangochi South West lawmaker Shadric Namalomba, while also supporting the motion, said bills of this nature “have to come from the people”.
Namalomba faulted Dimba for excluding the recreational use of chamba, saying he did not want Parliament to come back next year and look at the issue of legalising the recreational use.
Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire argued that the discussion was not about legalising the use of chamba, but allowing some licensed producers to grow and sell it outside the country and bring forex.
On his part, Justice Minister Titus Mvalo said the government has looked at the proposed bills and would like to take over and bring them to Parliament.
But Zomba Ntonya lawmaker Ned Poya expressed concern over the decision by the Ministry of Justice to take over the bills, saying government has bureaucratic tendencies which could delay the process.
Mulanje South West lawmaker George Chaponda said people in other countries have benefitted from ‘Malawi Gold’ while Malawians have remained poor.
He spoke against highlighting the dangers of the crop, saying even the tobacco with nicotine that Malawi has been growing is dangerous.
In her contribution to the motion, Chikwawa West MP Susan Dossi said authorities should ensure that the benefits of the local cannabis should trickle down to the people.
Citing the example of tobacco, Dossi said local farmers have remained poor despite producing “a high-value crop”.
In February 2020, Malawi legalised cannabis farming for industrial and medicinal use, hoping to take advantage of the booming global demand and move away from over-reliance on tobacco as an export crop.
