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The tariff-free trade regime between the member countries of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is an impediment to Zambian access to the Botswana market, a Botswana external trade statistician has said in Lusaka.

Times of Zambia Thursday quoted Oneetse Gaosekelwe as saying that Botswana has a large potential market for Zambia's agricultural products but that little is being exported to his country because of the prevailing SACU trade conditions that favor imports from South Africa, a principal SACU member.

Under the SACU conditions, exports from the member countries enter each other's markets without any tariff restrictions.

He said the existence of such conditions makes it easier for Botswana to import agricultural products from South Africa other than Zambia.

She urged Zambia to find ways to enable itself to penetrate the Botswana market extensively especially in agricultural produce as the latter's climate is not favorable for agriculture.

She also urged Zambia to join SACU as it will then be able to access the SACU markets.

SACU comprises Swaziland, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho.