Tanzania has lifted its ban on agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi, a move that came just days after the country imposed the restrictions in response to similar trade measures from the two southern African nations. The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) announced the decision late Friday, with Joseph Ndunguru, the authority’s director general, stating that the ban would be lifted immediately to facilitate “a diplomatic ministerial discussion.”
The ban, which affected agricultural imports from both nations, was imposed by Tanzania on Wednesday, alongside a prohibition on the export of Tanzanian fertilizer to Malawi—a key supplier of the product. However, the fertilizer export ban to Malawi has also been revoked.
The three countries, members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), have agreed to address the trade dispute through dialogue. South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, welcomed the lifting of the ban, noting that the resolution of the issue through diplomatic channels reinforced the strong ties between the nations. Lamola expressed optimism that cooperation and mutual understanding would lead to more opportunities for shared growth.
