The Ministry of Indusrty, Trade and Investment and the Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT), at different forums in Dar Es Salaam, has assured the the people of sufficient stock of the essential commodity, pleading with the public to volunteer any information that could lead to the arrest of all those who connive to hoard sugar,
SBT Director General Henry Semwaza directed all major distributors at a press conference held in the city to urgently release all the stocked sugar to the market.
“The sugar board is pleased to inform the people that there is adequate stock of sugar in the country and there is nothing to worry about because sugar is available in all regions.
So, the board hereby warns of indiscriminate price hike for whatever reason,” said Mr Semwaza, directing Dar es Salaam-based Alneem Enterprise, which has 8,600 tonnes of sugar in its warehouses, to release the product. “...
There are indicators of some major distributors trying to hoard sugar to create artificial shortage to justify price hikes...let them be warned that the government is aware of their motive,” cautioned Mr Semwaza, hinting that with 62,000 tonnes, the country has sufficient stock of the product.
The board has directed Kilombero Sugar Company Limited to ensure that all traders who have paid for sugar at the factory to supply it in the market instead of stocking it. “We have as well ordered (Moshi-based) TPC to sell all the sugar in its warehouses to all needy traders,” said the SBT chief.
Mr Semwaza said production costs have not changed, warning that anybody trying to hike the price or hoarding the product is committing an economic sabotage crime. The retail sugar price, he said, should not exceed 2,000/- per kilogramme.
“Hoarding sugar is an intolerable crime,” said Mr Semwaza, adding that the board and the sugar importation consultative committee and regional secretariats, will closely follow up on the available sugar and price movements in the country for appropriate measures.
Trade Minister Charles Mwijage arrayed fears of sugar shortage in the country, threatening to personally close down warehouses of distributors proved to have hoarded the product.
“We have enough sugar in stock...let anyone with information of traders hiding the product to share it...I will personally go and shut down their stores,” he emphasised.
Mr Mwijage said the government is determined to increase sugar industries in the country to create employment and safeguard local markets from imported sugar.
He noted that the government was engaging a major sugar investor who is interested in investing in what will be the country’s largest sugar processing industry in Kigoma Region. “We have many interested parties who want to invest in sugar industry in the country.
We are already engaging one major investor who is coming to invest in the industry. He will build one of the largest sugar factories in the region in Kigoma,” he reported.
Culled From Daily News
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