Tanzania lifts Ban on Malawi, South Africa agricultural imports after diplomatic truce
This latest move marks a de-escalation of tensions after what had initially appeared to be a brewing trade row among the SADC partners.
Tanzania has officially lifted its ban on the importation and transportation of agricultural products from Malawi and South Africa following diplomatic engagements and commitments by the two Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner states to resolve the trade dispute amicably.
In a statement issued on Friday, April 25, 2025, by Tanzania's Minister for Agriculture, Hussein M. Bashe, the government said it had decided to remove all the restrictions imposed earlier this week after positive diplomatic communication with the concerned countries.
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The announcement was made in a Kiswahili press release published by the Ministry of Agriculture in Dodoma.
On April 23, 2025, Tanzania announced an immediate suspension of agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa at its border points.
The move, according to Tanzanian authorities, was to prevent agricultural products from entering its domestic markets until certification and compliance issues were addressed.
This created a diplomatic standoff and concerns among SADC trade partners.
However, after communication between Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and their counterparts in Malawi and South Africa, it was agreed that the matter would be resolved diplomatically.
Specifically, Malawi pledged to send a high-level delegation to Tanzania for discussions led by its Foreign Affairs Minister and counterparts from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Talks in Dodoma
These talks are scheduled to commence on May 2, 2025, in Dodoma under the coordination of Tanzania's Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Regarding South Africa, Tanzania's Agriculture Ministry confirmed that technical-level discussions are already underway through the Plant Health and Pesticides Authority, alongside the Foreign Affairs Ministries, to address health, safety, and market access concerns tied to agricultural produce.
"Based on this progress, the Ministry of Agriculture is hereby lifting all the restrictions imposed on agricultural products from Malawi and South Africa effective April 26, 2025, as we await the conclusion of the ongoing diplomatic engagements," the statement reads.
The Tanzanian government also reassured local farmers and citizens that the priority remains safeguarding the nation's agricultural health and economic interests through robust diplomatic engagement.
This latest move marks a de-escalation of tensions after what had initially appeared to be a brewing trade row among the SADC partners.
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