By Kabiru Abdulrauf
Dodoma, Tanzania – Regional trade relations have taken a sharp turn as Tanzania imposed an immediate ban on the importation of agricultural products from Malawi and South Africa, citing retaliatory actions against restrictions previously imposed by both nations on Tanzanian goods.
The announcement was made by Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, in a video message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account late Wednesday. The move follows the expiration of a deadline given to Malawi and South Africa to lift bans on imports from Tanzania.
“From this night, we will not allow any agricultural products from South Africa into our country,” Bashe declared. “A similar ban is being imposed on Malawi.”
The ban affects a wide range of products, including maize flour, rice, ginger, and bananas — key Tanzanian exports that had faced entry restrictions in Malawi and South Africa. In addition to the import ban, Tanzania will now restrict the transit of third-party agricultural goods through its territory en route to landlocked Malawi, and will also suspend the export of Tanzanian fertilizer to the country.
All three countries are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional bloc that promotes economic integration and cooperation. The escalating trade row raises questions about the effectiveness of SADC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
Minister Bashe emphasized that while the measures are protective, dialogue with both nations will continue in an attempt to de-escalate the trade tensions. “This is business, and we should all respect each other,” he said.
Observers warn that unless swiftly addressed, the trade rift could disrupt regional supply chains, escalate food prices, and set back economic cooperation goals within southern Africa.
