Malawi has for the second time stopped the export of “a precious stone” to China because it had been sold below its true value.
Last week government officials approved the sale of the boulder for two million kwacha ($2,500; £1,800) and it was due to be exported to China this week.
Mines Minister Rashid Gaffar told the BBC he ordered the shipping halted because he did not believe a stone, for which two Chinese nationals were fined seven million kwacha ($8,800; £6,400) when trying to export it two years ago, could be sold for less than the fine.
“All I want is for an investigation to be carried out to ascertain if officials in my ministry sold the stone for a price that represents its true value,” the minister said.
A video of the stone in a shipping container has been shared online.