Malawi-Tanzania trade row: 'My bananas were seized and destroyed'

Following the crackdown, some traders have resorted to selling their goods in secret, the BBC hears.

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On Friday, businesswomen told the BBC that some fellow traders had been arrested on the second day of a ban imposed by Tanzania on all agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa.

"My bananas were seized and destroyed. Right now, our business has brought losses, and we only have a little money left," said Jestina Chanya, a trader in Karongo, about 50km (30 miles) from the border with Tanzania.

Diplomatic efforts to address the dispute have failed but Tanzania's agriculture minister said fresh talks were ongoing.

Last month, Malawi blocked imports of flour, rice, ginger, bananas and maize from Tanzania, and other countries, saying this was to protect local producers.