Tanzania prohibits South African and Malawi imports with a commercial row escalating

The loud border crossing was usually between Tanzania and Malawi significantly more quieter than usual on Thursday as a result of the escalating regional commercial class.

From midnight, Tanzania banned the entry of all agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa in response to what it considers restrictions on some of its exports.

South Africa has banned bananas from Tanzania. Last month, Malawi banned the imports of flour, rice, ginger, banana and corn from its northern neighbor.

“We take this step to protect our commercial interests … in business, we must all respect each other,” said Hussein Bash, Minister of Agriculture in Tanzania Bash.

Diplomatic efforts to solve commercial issues have failed so far, but Bash said that the new talks are continuing.

The row comes at a time when Africa is supposed to move towards a larger free trade by creating a Free Trade Zone at the continent levelWhich started work four years ago.

South African exports of various fruits, including apples and grapes, will be injured to Tanzania. Meanwhile, the non -coastal Malawi, which relied on the impulsive ports of their exports such as tobacco, sugar and soybeans to the rest of the world, will have to redirect their goods.

Malawi’s embargo is designed to import some products, which were announced in March, as a temporary measure that covers goods from all countries to protect local producers, according to the authorities in Lilongy.

“It is a strategic step to create an environment in which local companies can flourish without immediate pressure on foreign competition,” said Malawi’s Minister of Commerce, Vitomebico Mumbi.

The Minister of Agriculture in Tanzania said that Malawi’s move “directly affected” the merchants of his country and described the restrictions as “unfair and harmful.”

While the import ban confirms, Bash Tanzani stressed that he will not threaten their food security.

“Tanzani will not die because of the lack of grapes or apples in South Africa,” he said, adding, “We are taking these measures to protect the Tanzanian interests.”

South Africa or Malawi commented on the movement of Tanzania.

At the Kasumulu crossing, through which most of the Tanzania-Malawi trade pass, a handful of trucks transporting goods such as fuel on the Tanzanian side was discovered.

On an ordinary day, more than 15 trucks loaded with agricultural products will cross the border, as drivers told the BBC.

On the Malawi side, many trucks that should be transported bananas and tomatoes through Tanzania are parked and empty.

“(Drivers) are now trying to find alternative products to transport. It was very difficult for them because they are used to carrying agricultural goods, and now they can only carry bananas and tomatoes, but even corn and potatoes,” said Happy Zulu, a businessman, for the BBC.

Commercial flows between Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa – all members of the South Africa development community (SADC), are affected by regional political, security and economic body – last week.

Saturday Bash Publishing a video on social media showing a pile of corrupt bananas In a truck that was crossed on the border with Malawi, saying it is difficult for Tanzania to carry the trend.

A lot of tomatoes also spoiled on the border recently after the trucks from Tanzania were rejected from the entry of Malawi.

Malawi has become an increasingly important market for Tanzanian commodities in recent years, as exports between 2018 and 2023, according to official Tanzanian personalities.

But while Tanzania can seek alternative markets as in Kenya, Namibia and South Sudan, the non -coastal Malawi may find it difficult to get its goods out of the country.

Most of her exports pass through the Tanzanian peace port, as well as basic imports such as fuel and machines.

The loss of access to Dar Es Salaam Malawi is likely to force the transfer of shipments via Mozambican’s ports in Beira and Nanala – which may be more expensive.

Bash argued that the ban was not intended to raise a trade war, but to protect the interests of Tanzania.

“Tanzania will not continue to allow access to unequal markets to continue at the expense of its people,” he said.