Stinking Borders
Imagine being asked to pay K10,000 or K20,000 for a border pass that is, by law, free. Imagine being issued with an inflated tax invoice so that you fail to pay and are forced into negotiations.Imagine being required to produce a Covid certificate to cross a border years after Malawi declared an end to Covid as a major public health threat.Imagine, too, a police officer with no grounding in taxation insisting that you have under-declared your goods to the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and then being stopped more than ten times by different security agencies, each demanding to see the same documents.This is not an aberration. It is the daily reality for Malawi’s cross-border traders.For these traders, the system operates on a blunt logic: take it or leave it. Pay, or be delayed. To some security agents, the arrival of a cross-border trader is not a routine matter of facilitation but an opportunity.As one trader puts it, movement across borders has become less about compliance with rules and more about navigating power.These realities were laid bare recently in Lilongwe, when the Cross Border Traders Association of Malawi released a report on traders’ experiences of corruption and harassment at the country’s borders.The study examined conditions at three key crossing points of Chitipa, Nsanje and Mangochi and paints a troubling picture of systemic abuse.According to the report, traders routinely face demands for unofficial payments, are pressured to pay bribes to speed up clearance or avoid unnecessary delays, and are charged inflated fees for documentation and customs processes.Multiple checkpoints, often manned by different agencies, further increase the cost of doing business, turning what should be a streamlined process into an obstacle course.Beyond the financial burden, the report documents intimidation and verbal abuse by some officials, sexual harassment experienced by female traders, confiscation of goods for unclear reasons, and a lack of clear information on procedures and traders’ rights.These practices, the report suggests, are not isolated incidents but embedded features of the border experience.Cross Border Traders Association of Malawi President Steve Yohane said the elevated levels of corruption directly increase the cost of trading and erode already thin profit margins.He added that traders often suffer loss of goods and income, while the pervasive uncertainty breeds fear and psychological stress, ultimately undermining trust in border authorities.For women, the consequences are even more severe.Chairperson of Women Cross-border Traders Margaret Kamchacha said corruption and intimidation have led to reduced participation of women in cross-border trade, cutting them off from an important source of income and economic independence.The report is punctuated by stark testimonies from traders themselves. “You can’t cross the border without paying something extra.” “I fear going through the border at night because of harassment.”“The procedures are not clear, and sometimes officials make their own rules.”Others were more specific: “At Chiponde, your time is their weapon. They know your truck is waiting, so they create a problem only money can solve.”“In Nsanje, corruption is not an event, it’s the routine. You budget for the official duty and the unofficial service fee.”“At Mbilima, the rulebook changes daily depending on the officer and their mood. You don’t comply with regulations; you negotiate with the officer.”And in Chitipa, one trader observed, “they act as a team not to serve, but to collect. You pay once, but to a syndicate.”The report makes several recommendat ions aimed at restoring accountability and trust. These include establishing a dedicated, protected feedback mechanism, such as a toll-free number or SMS line, managed by an independent party, allowing traders to report specific incidents without fear of retaliation.It also calls for joint roadblocks by border security agencies, rather than multiple, separate checkpoints involving the MRA, Police, Malawi Defence Force and Immigration.Deputy Regional Immigration Officer for Administration Chisomo Chimtapasa said Immigration officers have nothing to do with issues of under-declaration on receipts.He added that such officers should be reported to authorities to be disciplined.According to Chimtapasa, Malawians living along the borders are not supposed to pay for border passes when crossing.In his presentation on The Impact of Corruption in Malawi: Implications for Cross-Border Traders, National Anti-Corruption Alliance (Naca) Chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said corruption increases the cost of doing business.He added that delays lead to spoiled goods and reduce profits and competitiveness.“Traders often face demands for money from multiple authorities (police, immigration, MRA) even after paying official duties, with bribe demands occurring both at official border posts and on transit roads.“Bribery demands add unnecessary costs that erode profit margins for small businesses,” Kaiyatsa said.Assistant Director of Trade in the Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism Rose Kadewere said cross-border trade is a lifeline for Malawi’s economy, supporting livelihoods , generating revenue and strengthening regional integration.She observed that the ministry is committed to working with all stakeholders to address challenges faced by cross-border traders, the majority of whom are women and youth.“We are strengthening collaboration with relevant institutions such as the Malawi Revenue Authority, Malawi Police Service and other agencies to streamline border operations and reduce unnecessary checkpoints,” she said.
