Retailer Tesco has decided to stop sourcing products from Zimbabwe as long as the political crisis in that country continues to persist.
Seriousness of the political crisis and mounting international consensus that more action was required to press for a change in Zimbabwe are the two reasons that have led the retailer into arriving at this latest decision.
News.scotsman.com cited Tesco as saying: "This is a difficult decision to take. 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."
However, the company further added: "Our aim is to re-engage with our suppliers and their workers once stability, and an internationally recognized regime, have returned to the country."
Annually, the retailer purchases various products, including vegetables, worth GBP1 million from Zimbabwe.
The international community has expressed concern over the presidential election re-run conducted in Zimbabwe. The re-run had only one candidate Robert Mugabe in the fray after Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader, pulled out his candidature citing pre-poll violence. Mr Mugabe won the election. In line with this, the United Nations has asked leaders from other African countries to help the country solve the ongoing political crisis.