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Zambia has imposed duty on Kenyan exports in retaliation to Nairobi’s refusal to allow hundreds of tonnes of its sugar to enter the country.
About 10 trucks laden with Zambian sugar destined for the Kenyan market have been stuck at the Namanga border for the past three weeks.
“It was the last option after we realised that our friends were not co-operating,” said Commerce, Trade and Industry permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa in a telephone interview.
Mr Mwansa said the Kenyan authorities had refused to allow the sugar entry because they believed Zambia does not manufacture sugar, but was getting it from South Africa.
“There is nothing wrong with the tax. There is no way we are going to allow their goods here while they are blocking ours. This is the second time they are doing this to us,” he said.
The Zambian government has invoked provisions of the protocol of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), which allows retaliation against unfair trade practices. The two countries are members of Comesa.
The private sector has called on the governments of Zambia and Kenya to quickly resolve the trade differences. However, the Zambian official said the country was trying to protect its market from being flooded by Kenyan goods.
Zambia’s Private Sector Development Association’s chairperson Yusuf Dodia said the dispute could erupt into a full-scale trade war if not properly handled.
“They need to quickly find a way forward and deal with this problem before it escalates to other sectors as well. Trade negotiations should be encouraged between the two governments,” Mr Dodia said.
While acknowledging that the Comesa protocol allows countries to impose restrictive measures to protect their economies, he said the private sector ended up bearing the consequences of such actions.
A Comesa special committee is sitting to discuss …. READ MORE AT …. http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Zambia-slaps-duty-on-Kenyan-goods/-/539546/1705612/-/jv01ck/-/index.html
It amazes me how, when you feel that the west oppress African countries, we can;t even work as good neighbours, shame. Next time kuchita chabe exchange amabulos
Kenyans are a very foolishly proud lot. They do not want goods and foerign businesses to enter their market while they want to engross into other countries. We cannot forget how they hounded SAB out of Kenya and took over the state of the art brewery plant. They have denied Shoprite and other chains to establish in their country. Weldone Zed Government. Ugandans should do the same and lets see where this behaviour will take them.
Kenyans a very foolishly proud lot. They do not want goods and foerign businesses to enter their market while they want to engross into other countries. We cannot forget how they hounded SAB out of Kenya and took over the state of the art brewery plant. They have denied Shoprite and other chains to establish in their country. Weldone Zed Government. Ugandans should do the same and lets see where this behaviour will take them.