Recently the Malawian Government through its Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Vitumbiko Augearns Zasamula Mumba passed an order stating that,“A person shall not import into Malawi any of the good listed in the schedule.”
Meanwhile the prohibited imported goods that were listed were, fruits and vegetables except the ones that don’t grow in Malawi, maize flour, fresh milk, rice, peanut butter , honey, popcorn, meat products such as sausage, bacon and cold meat, tooth picks, matches, bottled water, plastic utensils, wooden furniture, table eggs, mops, Irish potatoes, garlic, ginger, onions and security boots The prohibition order further indicated that , any person who contravenes the provision of this order , commits an offence and shall , upon conviction ,be liable to penalties specified under Malawi’s control of goods Act (import and export) commerce prohibition order) specified under section 14 of the act.
It further showed that the order will expire on the 12th day of March, 2027.Meanwhile in an exclusive interview with Zambia’s Southern Africa Cross Border Traders Association (SACBTA), Secretary General Jacob Makambwe said, this will affect the trade between Zambia and Malawi especially for small scale traders because most of the goods listed on that particular prohibition order are also on the simplified trade regime on the common list that Zambia and Malawi had actually agreed on the simplified trade regime agreement. “So this is some kind of non-tariff barrier imposed by a country that is abrogating regional agreement that they signed, because
Zambia and Malawi have got bilateral agreement.”
Makambwe further stated that the ban wasn’t made in good faith as it will affect most of the traders operating within that area.“Most of those that will be operating around there are going to encounter problems and it is going to encourage smuggling thereby increasing illicit trade in that area.
