Mwanza RC issues directives on building material prices

MWANZA Regional Commissioner (RC), Adam Malima has called on relevant authorities in the region to validate whether the increasing prices of building materials has an association with soaring fuel prices.

He said the move will help the authorities to come up with a joint solution on how people can continue getting affordable building materials.

The RC noted that if they will find that there is no correlation between the high prices of building materials and fuel prices, authorities, including the Fair Competition Commission (FCC) should control the random price rise in the market in efforts to promote competition and protect consumers.

The RC was responding to a presentation by FCC Director General (DG), Mr William Erio which showed that some people have complained to the Commission over the increasing price of building materials in Mwanza, with traders attributing it to increase in fuel prices.

“It is better relevant authorities, including Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority, to go for joint investigation and see how best we can resolve this challenge in favour of both traders and consumers,” urged the RC during the FCC’s seminar on issues of competition and control of fake goods.

He also advised Tanzanians to consider the quality of their goods, whose potential is high in international markets.

Mr Malima cited an example of Tanzanian livestock meat, whose potential is engineered by how best the animals are fed and taken care of.

“There is no way, for instance, the meat of a bull, which has been used for carrying cargo and land tilling for over four years can meet consumers’ requirements in markets,” he said.

Commenting on building materials, the FCC DG said that if current prices are due to an increase in fuel price, then there was need to consult all transportation stakeholders, including Tanzania Railways Corporation to find other means of transporting the fuel, especially through railway.

“It is our obligation to investigate and bring in a quick solution. Protecting the consumers, in terms of monitoring the price in markets and goods’ quality is one of our chore responsibilities,” he said.

In separate interviews with the ‘Daily News’, some traders said that increase in fuel prices was the only reason behind the increasing prices of building materials.

The Director for Ipo Hardware and General Supply, Mr Karist Gervas said that they used to hire a vehicle for transporting the building materials from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza at a cost of 3.5m/-  but it has now increased to 4.8m/-.

As a result, cement price has shot up to 23,000/- per bag from 18,000/-, a ten millimeter iron bar to 20,000/- from 16,000/- and a 30-gauge iron sheet to 25,000/- from 21,000/-.