Tanzania: Avocado exports to South Africa may start soon

Tukuyu — Tanzania and South Africa are finalising negotiations under which the East African nation will start to officially export avocados to the latter. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said here yesterday that a solution to a tiff over avocados between the two countries would be found soon. Earlier this year, South African authorities blocked avocado shipments via Tanzanian large-scale producer Rob Clowes at the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa over a lack of phytosanitary documents. Also seized were avocados from the Moravian Farming Company PVT Limited. However, Mr Clowes - the founder of avocado giant Kuza Africa Limited in Tanzania - is quoted as saying that the seizure was part of concerted efforts by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) in South Africa to protect that country's avocado growers. But Mr Majaliwa said yesterday said the government had opted for a negotiated settlement to end the stalemate. "We opted to negotiate, ...