DAR ES SALAAM, June 4 -- Tanzanian businesses are expanding across Africa. From agriculture and manufacturing to logistics and services, more companies are entering regional markets, securing new customers and building cross-border partnerships. On the surface, this reflects the growing promise of African trade.

But beneath that growth lies a quieter challenge.

Many businesses are still losing value, not because they cannot sell, but because of how they get paid. And this remains one of the least discussed barriers to intra-African trade.

Most conversations around African trade focus on market access, logistics, tariffs and frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area. These issues matter. However, they are no longer the ...