Tanzania and Malawi have finally agreed to end their trade dispute following weeks of escalating tensions and reciprocal import restrictions. The two countries, joined by South Africa which was also drawn into the conflict, have now reached a consensus to suspend all trade barriers and implement a Simplified Trade Regime Agreement (STRA) after a series of high-level talks.
The trade war between Tanzania and Malawi started when Malawi placed a ban on the importation of several agricultural products from Tanzania, including maize, maize flour, rice, plantains, and ginger. In response, Tanzania retaliated by placing similar restrictions on Malawian imports and went a step further by banning the transit of essential goods like fertilisers through the port of Dar es Salaam to landlocked Malawi.
Tanzania’s Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, had earlier issued a one-week ultimatum to both Malawi and South Africa to reverse their positions on the bans. When neither country responded by the deadline, Tanzania followed through on its threats. Imports from both countries were blocked, including fresh apples and grapes from South Africa and critical agricultural imports from Malawi.
According to Bashe, Tanzania acted in defense of its traders who had been affected by the initial bans. He stated, “This measure has directly affected activities of our businessmen who export crops to Malawi.” He also noted the frustration Tanzania faced over the years trying to open markets for its produce, such as plantains in South Africa and avocados globally, which informed the government’s decision to act firmly this time.
Tanzania’s actions included halting the transit of fertilisers meant for Malawi, a critical blow to the latter’s farming sector. “As of the first of May, Malawi was supposed to start importing fertilisers from Tanzania. We will not allow any fertilisers to go to Malawi,” Bashe declared.
Using social media platform X, Bashe announced further restrictions against South Africa, specifically targeting fruit imports. “South Africa has been exporting to Tanzania fresh apples. Therefore, from today, it is illegal to import South African fresh apples or grapes,” he said.
For Malawi, the ban extended not only to agricultural imports but also to the use of Tanzania’s ports for trade. Bashe warned that maize shipments intended to address food shortages in Malawi would not be allowed to pass through Tanzania.
However, the pressure seemed to work. By the end of April, both Malawi and South Africa had softened their stances and signalled a willingness to negotiate. In response, Tanzania paused its restrictions and agreed to sit down for talks.
These discussions led to a joint communique signed by Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, and Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Gladys Tembo. The agreement confirmed the suspension of trade restrictions and the countries’ commitment to finalise the legal frameworks for the STRA by May 30.
In his remarks following the breakthrough, Bashe said both countries are committed to resolving their issues and fostering deeper trade relations. “We have agreed to suspend the restrictions and are moving forward to strengthen trade ties and regional cooperation,” he said.
This development is seen as a win for regional diplomacy and trade integration. The STRA is expected to enhance cross-border trade by simplifying procedures and reducing bureaucratic hurdles, particularly for small traders. The agreement also includes South Africa, one of the region’s biggest trading partners.
Business experts believe the resolution of the dispute will help restore investor confidence and ensure smoother intra-African trade, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. The dispute had threatened not only the economies of Tanzania and Malawi but also broader regional cooperation in East and Southern Africa.
