Malawi and South Africa have signed a new agreement designed to clamp down on customs fraud by allowing tax authorities in both countries to swap information electronically for the first time. The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) put pen to paper on an IT Connectivity Implementation Arrangement, a deal officials say marks a significant step forward for trade cooperation between the two nations. He revealed South Africa is currently Malawi’s second-largest source of imports, making up around 18 per cent of all imports – a trade relationship worth some US$3 billion in the 2025/26 financial year alone. The new system, he added, has been designed in line with World Customs Organization standards. He said using data and intelligence more effectively was central to improving tax compliance, supporting legitimate trade, and boosting revenue collection.