Malawi Bans 21 Imported Goods, Arrests Three Shop Owners
Buyers reported that shop owners failed to issue proper tax receipts from the Malawi Revenue Authority, with some vendors providing a single receipt to more than 10 customers.
BLANTYRE, Malawi — Malawi has implemented a sweeping ban on 21 imported goods and arrested three secondhand clothing shop owners in a government crackdown on what officials call "economic sabotage", writes Winston Mwale.
Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba signed the Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) (Prohibition) Order on March 13, which was published in the Malawi Gazette Supplement the following day.
"A person shall not import into Malawi any of the goods listed in the Schedule," states the order, which is set to remain in effect until March 12, 2027.
The prohibited items include fruits and vegetables "except those that do not grow in Malawi," maize flour, fresh milk, rice, peanut butter, honey, popcorn, meat products, toothpicks, matches, bottled water, table eggs, plastic utensils, wooden furniture, mops, Irish potatoes, garlic, ginger, onions, and security boots.
During an inspection of secondhand clothing shops (locally known as "Kaunjika") in Limbe on Friday, Mumba closed three businesses — Saya, Xinxhin and Shee — after discovering multiple violations.
"The owners of the Kaunjika shops have been arrested for what the minister called 'economic sabotage' for raising prices of Kaunjika bales every week," according to ministry documents.
Buyers reported that shop owners failed to issue proper tax receipts from the Malawi Revenue Authority, with some vendors providing a single receipt to more than 10 customers.
Earlier that day, Mumba met with the Limbe Vendors Association at Ryalls Hotel to address concerns about secondhand clothing distributors. The vendors highlighted several issues, including preferential treatment for foreign buyers.
"They prefer selling to Mozambicans who buy in US dollars, which is against the law," the ministry noted in its release.
Other reported violations included arbitrary price increases, banning customers who complained about product quality, and tax evasion through falsified receipts.
"Before we could go to the other shops, they had already closed. Likely they had informed each other as they have a WhatsApp Forum," Mumba said.
"One Chinese was caught as he was trying to jump onto his vehicle."
The minister expressed frustration with foreign business owners operating in the country without proper language skills, questioning how permits were issued "to Chinese who can't even speak English."
The Ministry of Trade and Industry plans to elaborate on these measures during a press conference scheduled for Monday, March 17, at 5:30 p.m., which will be live-streamed on social media and television.