There is silent but growing discontent in Southern Africa about South Africa’s agricultural dominance across the region. For some time, countries such as Namibia and Botswana have imposed temporary bans on imports of South African agricultural products, most recently fruits and vegetables.
The rationale behind these policy actions is to grow domestic farming activities. Blocking South African imports to create space for local industries is the approach these countries deem necessary.
As these countries are all members of the Southern African Customs Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), frequent bans on agricultural products from South Africa undermine the spirit of these agreements.
The ambition to improve domestic agricultural production is understandable and should be supported by all countries in the region as it ultimately contributes to regional agricultural and economic prosperity.
However, pursuing this policy objective in a way that undermines regional economic integration is risky and introduces uncertainty into regional agricultural trade.
Regional protectionism raises concerns
By mid-July 2026, two countries in the AfCFTA region were still publicly advocating restrictions on agricultural products from South Africa.
Bank of Botswana Governor Lesego Moseki called on his country’s leadership to accelerate efforts to reduce reliance on food imports, among other consumer goods. While we understand the arguments behind Moseki’s call, we believe the best approach to accelerating agricultural development is to leverage the farm technologies that South African agribusinesses can offer.
The Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) provides a good example of how this can be achieved. The CGA shares cultivars and best practices across the region to accelerate production. This model can be replicated for various farming inputs to help boost Botswana’s agricultural production.
What we ought to avoid is Botswana’s current approach of regularly restricting vegetable and fruit imports from South Africa.
Any policy aimed at increasing domestic food production should be carefully crafted to avoid disrupting regional food supplies and potentially triggering unnecessary food inflation in Botswana.
Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, Roberto Albino, also recently expressed the intention to pursue import substitution and reduce the country’s reliance on certain food imports from South Africa. As in Botswana, such efforts should be supported. We all want shared prosperity in Southern Africa. There are lessons and technologies that Mozambique can learn from South African agribusinesses to strengthen its agricultural production.
An improvement in Mozambique’s agricultural production would also help boost its economy. Agriculture accounts for around 20-25% of Mozambique’s GDP and stronger growth in the sector would have a material positive impact. However, these agricultural expansion efforts should be pursued in a way that does not encourage irregular, protectionist trade practices.
The borders must remain open for food trade while governments, farmers and agribusinesses work together to improve domestic production. South Africa’s agriculture should not be viewed as a threat but as a key collaborator and provider of essential inputs.
Looking beyond regional markets
Beyond these regional trade frictions, the message for South Africa is clear: the Southern African region can no longer be the primary destination for its agricultural exports. South Africa must make meaningful progress in finding new export markets and deepen trade with countries in Asia, the Middle East and other regions.
What we are observing in Southern Africa may be the beginning of a more persistent push by neighbouring countries to reduce their reliance on food imports from South Africa.
The trend began with Namibia and Botswana. Mozambique has now joined them in expressing protectionist sentiment towards South African agricultural imports.
As South Africa looks further afield to expand its agricultural exports, there also needs to be ongoing engagement within the region to address lingering trade frictions that undermine the spirit of the AfCFTA.
