Malawian businesses engaged in cross border trade can now breathe a sigh of relief from challenges ranging from cumbersome regulations, policies, conditions and restrictions, thanks to Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) efforts aimed to eliminate such non-tariff barriers (NTB).
This came out during the ‘Strengthening Malawi’s Regional Trade through the Promotion of Transparent and Predictable Regulatory Framework’ engagement meeting on non- tariff barriers faced by cross border traders that took place in Zomba in May.
MCCCI Chief Executive Officer Daisy Kambalame indicated that MCCCI felt obliged to organise the meeting after observing that, apart from tax issues, there could be other underlying factors that negatively affect service provision among cross-border traders.
“We have joined hands with a consortium of [officials] from the ministries of Agriculture and Trade to capture the experiences of cross-border traders so that we understand the non-tariff barriers they face.
“We also want them to understand applicable laws because we realise that if people have a different understanding of laws, law application will differ. We, therefore, want to create an environment where there is clarity and transparency,” she explained.
“Sometimes, people lack clarity on rules and what documentation to bring to those at the border and [roadblocks]. The good thing is that there is, now, a portal they can go to. That will give us a chance to focus on exports, which is another goal we must pursue,” she added.
She said, further to that, appreciating challenges that cross-border traders face would put stakeholders in a position to address them and put Malawi in a position to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Weighing in Cross Border Traders Association of Malawi President Steve Yohane observed that cross-border traders continue to face However, Yohane claimed that some public and civil servants in Malawi seem poised to frustrate such a move.
“In the end, we, cross-border traders, lose out on contracts to supply goods and services because people at these roadblocks delay us and our buyers end up buying from other suppliers. We have had cases where goods have gone bad after being detained unnecessarily for months on end. This must change if we, as a country, are to make inroads in cross-border trade,” Yohane explained.
He added that should the practices persist, Malawi may lose out on trade facilitation opportunities while other SADC countries are meeting their socio-economic goals.
Yohane also implored officials in government ministries, departments and agencies to be giving instant feedback to traders so that, together, they can iron out issues that make cross-border trade a living hell for them.
On her part, Ministry of Trade and Industry Director of Administration Sphiwe Msiska said constant engagement is key to the facilitation of trade both in Malawi and outside Malawi.
“That is why we had to engage different stakeholders, who have raised pertinent issues. We also appreciate that cross- border trade, which is often run by small-scale businesses, is important to the country,” Msiska said.
MCCCI organised the activity using funds from Growing Africa’s Agriculture, with participants being drawn from those in cross- border trade, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi Revenue Authority, Malawi Bureau of Standards, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, Malawi Police Service, among others.
