The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) has faulted Malawi government for appointing retired American boxer, Mike Tyson as its Industrial Cannabis ambassador.

On Tuesday, there was a letter circulating from the Ministry of Agriculture, signed by Minister Lobin Lowe requesting Tyson to be the Ambassador.

Lowe has since confirmed authoring the letter.

But CPA acting director, Kondwani Munthali said Tyson does not deserve to represent Malawi due to his sex offences in his country, and his appointment is an embarrassment.

“Mr Mike Tyson was convicted and jailed of raping and serious violence of an 18-year-old woman in 1992. He remains on the sex offenders register in Arizona and Florida….

“The CPA is failing to comprehend why Malawi would want to have a convicted rapist as its brand ambassador, more especially, at this time, when efforts to curb violence against women are part of the government agenda.

“As a nation that is working tirelessly to stem out gender-based violence, we cannot be seen to associate ore celebrate people of Mike Tyson calibre as a face of promoting any of our products.

“We wish to believe that the letter is fake and such appointment was never considered. Or if it is true, it will be withdrawn with immediate effect,” reads the letter from Munthali.

The 55-year-old is a professional boxer nicknamed “Iron Mike” and “Kid Dynamite” in his early career and later known as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” according to Wikipedia.

He has dedicated his time to his Cannabis business after retiring from boxing in 2005.

According to marca.com, Tyson runs a company called 'Tyson Ranch' in California where Marijuana was legalised in 2016.

He reportedly earns about US$500,000 a month from the cannabis trade.