Mwanza, Malawi — Clearing agents at the Mwanza Border have downed their tools, shutting down operations and demanding the immediate removal of the station manager and three other Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) staff members.
The agents, led by chairman Colentino Nthani, accuse MRA officials of unprofessional conduct that has resulted in long delays in clearing goods imported into the country.
According to Nthani, trucks carrying essential goods such as food, fuel, and medical supplies are supposed to be cleared within two hours, but due to inefficiencies by border staff, the process is now taking up to five days.
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“This situation has created serious congestion at the border, and importers are wrongly blaming clearing agents for the delays,” said Nthani.
He further alleged that some MRA officers are deliberately sabotaging operations while intimidating clearing agents, which has caused widespread frustration among stakeholders.
Currently, the agents are holding discussions with the MRA Commissioner for Customs, Cornelius Kakwesa, who has travelled from Blantyre to intervene in the standoff.
Meanwhile, the border remains completely closed, with clearing agents refusing to allow any trucks to either enter or leave Malawi through Mwanza. The shutdown is already affecting cross-border trade, raising concerns about shortages of essential goods if the strike continues.
The situation is still unfolding as negotiations between MRA management and the clearing agents continue.
