Tanzania has rescinded its ban on agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi, a move prompted by successful diplomatic negotiations.
Joseph Ndunguru, Director General of the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, announced the decision, effective immediately, as a step toward resolving recent trade disputes.
The restrictions, enacted to safeguard Tanzania’s economic interests, responded to trade barriers imposed by South Africa and Malawi.
South African exports like grapes and apples faced curbs, while Tanzania halted fertiliser shipments to Malawi after Malawi restricted Tanzanian goods, including flour, rice, bananas, maize, and ginger. Malawi, reliant on Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port, felt the impact acutely.
Recent Trade Disruptions (2024–2025)
In March 2025, Malawi imposed a ban on imports of Tanzanian flour, rice, ginger, bananas, and maize to protect local producers. South Africa has maintained a ban on Tanzanian banana imports due to market and phytosanitary concerns.
In April 2025, Tanzania retaliated by banning all agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa, halting fertiliser exports to Malawi, and suspending transit rights for Malawian cargo through Tanzanian ports.
Trade Volume Data: Tanzania, South Africa, and Malawi
| Year | Malawi Exports to Tanzania (of total) | Malawi Exports to South Africa (of total) | Malawi Imports from South Africa (% of total) | Malawi Imports from Tanzania (of total) |
| 2021 | 9.40% | 6.40% | 14.00% | 6.70% |
| 2022 | 9.40% | 6.40% | 14.00% | 6.70% |
| 2023 | 10.80% | 5.40% | 15.60% | 6.70% |
Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe had justified the ban, condemning Malawi’s trade policies as detrimental to Tanzanian businesses. He emphasised that Tanzania would not face shortages of South African products.
Ministry of Trade data reveals that Tanzanian exports to Malawi tripled from 2018 to 2023, underscoring the market’s importance.
As members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which champions regional economic integration, Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa faced scrutiny over the dispute’s threat to SADC’s objectives.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, hailed the ban’s repeal as evidence of robust bilateral ties and a shared commitment to Pan-African unity.
Coinciding with Tanzania’s 61st unification anniversary—marking the 1964 merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar—Lamola called Tanzania a “symbol of Pan-Africanism.”
He advocated for deeper collaboration to realise Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. “This decision lays the foundation for expanded trade and stronger ties,” he said.
The removal of both the import restrictions and the fertilizer export ban reflects a renewed pledge to dialogue and regional cooperation within SADC.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
SADC unites 16 member states: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Through the 1996 Protocol on Trade, SADC fosters intra-regional trade to drive economic growth.
SADC Trade Framework
- Free Trade Area (FTA): Established in 2008, the FTA eliminates tariffs to boost regional commerce.
- Protocol on Trade: This framework promotes a competitive trade environment for economic and industrial growth.
- Trade Facilitation: Simplified customs and border processes reduce costs and delays.
- Non-Tariff Barriers: SADC addresses regulatory and logistical obstacles to streamline trade.
- Regional Integration: Trade strengthens economic interdependence, fostering stability.
- EU-SADC Trade: The EU, a major partner, exports manufactured goods and imports SADC commodities like diamonds and agricultural products.
Benefits of SADC Trade
- Market Growth: A broader consumer base drives economies of scale.
- Specialisation: Countries leverage comparative advantages for efficiency.
- Intra-Industry Trade: FTAs spur innovation through specialised production.
- Stability: Economic ties bolster political relations, reducing conflict.
- Investment: An integrated market attracts capital.
- Diversification: Trade shifts economies toward manufacturing and services.
- Global Reach: Regional cohesion enhances SADC’s competitiveness.
- AfCFTA Access: SADC membership opens doors to the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Trade Challenges
- Limited Product Diversity: Similar exports constrain intra-regional trade.
- Non-Tariff Barriers: Regulatory hurdles raise costs.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Poor roads and ports impede commerce.
SADC Initiatives
- Industrialisation Strategy: Diversifies economies and boosts competitiveness.
- Trade Facilitation Programme: Streamlines procedures for efficient trade.
- Regional Value Chains: Promotes high-value production for jobs and sustainability.
