Border traders battle banks’ forex blind spot

Border traders battle banks’ forex blind spot

Malawi’s informal trade with neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia remains constrained by limited access to regional currencies in the local banking system. While cross-border trade is active, commercial banks largely focus on globally traded currencies like the US dollar, rand, euro, and Pound Sterling. Regional currencies are rarely available, forcing traders to rely on the black market, exposing them to volatility, f…