Tanzania Lifts Agricultural Import Ban on South Africa, Malawi

Tanzania has lifted its recently imposed ban on agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa, just days after enforcing it in response to similar trade restrictions by the two southern African nations.

According to French news outlet Zone Bourse, Joseph Ndunguru, Director General of Tanzania’s Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, announced that the ban was removed immediately to allow for diplomatic discussions at the ministerial level.

He further noted that both Malawi and South Africa had initiated separate communications aimed at resolving the trade dispute through dialogue.

Last Wednesday, Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture had issued a directive halting all agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa, while simultaneously banning the export of Tanzanian fertilizers to Malawi. The fertilizer export ban has now also been lifted.

The three countries are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional economic bloc that promotes economic integration and cooperation.

The tensions arose after Malawi imposed an import ban on several Tanzanian agricultural products, including maize flour, rice, ginger, and bananas. South Africa also suspended the import of bananas transported through Tanzania.

By lifting the ban, Tanzania signals a willingness to resolve the dispute diplomatically, preserving vital regional trade relations critical to economic stability and growth.