Botswana’s abrupt reinstatement of a ban on key vegetable imports from South Africa has drawn a fierce rebuke from one of the region’s leading agricultural economists, who warns that Pretoria should take a “sensitive but firm” stand, and even consider withdrawing from SACU.
Wandile Sihlobo, the chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said Botswana’s latest restrictions, effective December 8 and covering staples such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cabbage and carrots, reverse earlier steps toward easing controls and run counter to the spirit of cooperation within the Southern African Customs Union, a bloc that includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.
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