Tanzania bans import from Malawi, South Africa as trade row deepens

Tanzania has banned agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa with immediate effect, escalating a regional trade dispute that has disrupted commercial activity at key border crossings.

The move, announced by Agriculture Minister, Hussein Bashe, on Wednesday, came in response to what Tanzania described as unfair trade barriers imposed by both countries on its own exports.

“We are taking this step to protect our business interests… In business, we must all respect each other,” Bashe said, confirming the ban.

At the Kasumulu border crossing between Tanzania and Malawi — typically a hub for trade — activity slowed sharply on Thursday, with only a few cargo trucks, mostly transporting fuel, seen on the Tanzanian side.

Tanzania’s decision follows Malawi’s March 2025 ban on imports of flour, rice, ginger, bananas and maize from all countries, which authorities in Lilongwe described as a temporary measure aimed at shielding local producers.

Malawi’s Trade Minister Vitumbiko Mumba defended the restrictions, saying they were necessary to give local businesses space to grow without immediate pressure from foreign imports.

Tanzania, however, said the move “directly affected” its traders. Bashe described the restrictions as “unfair and harmful,” but assured citizens that the new ban would not threaten national food security.

“No Tanzanian will die from a lack of South African grapes or apples,” Bashe added.

South Africa has long prohibited Tanzanian banana imports, a policy that Tanzania has now cited in its decision to block agricultural goods from both countries.

The row comes amid the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative, launched four years ago to promote free trade across the continent. But the current standoff highlights lingering protectionist tensions among member states.

South Africa and Malawi are yet to respond to Tanzania’s latest trade action, while diplomatic talks to resolve the dispute remain ongoing.

Malawi, a landlocked country, depends heavily on Tanzanian ports for exporting key commodities such as tobacco, sugar, and soybeans. The ban could force it to reroute shipments through alternative corridors.

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