New sugar imports ease Zanzibar shortage

ZANZIBAR: NEW sugar imports are beginning to ease the shortage in Zanzibar, with more than 4,680 tonnes of the commodity already arriving and another 3,700 tonnes expected next week through various importers.

Director General of the Zanzibar Fair Competition Commission, Aliya Emmanuel Juma, announced the development while speaking to sugar importers following inspections of several warehouses operated by traders.

Ms Juma said she was satisfied with efforts being made by importers to ensure adequate sugar supplies, describing the move as part of broader efforts to address challenges surrounding the availability of the commodity.

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However, she urged traders to ensure that sugar remains available to consumers at reasonable prices and warned them against increasing prices or deliberately withholding supplies under the pretext of shortages.

“Traders must comply with the indicative prices set by the government and ensure that prices are displayed on their products so that consumers can know the actual prices,” Ms Juma said.

She stressed that traders should not exploit supply challenges as an opportunity to make excessive profits by charging consumers unlawful prices.

She said the Zanzibar Fair Competition Commission would continue conducting inspections at warehouses and shops across the country to ensure that traders comply with laws, regulations and government-set indicative prices.

A representative of sugar importer Yasir Provision told the commission that more than 3,700 tonnes of sugar were expected to arrive in Zanzibar shortly through various importing companies. He said the arrival of additional supplies would improve the availability of sugar and help meet growing consumer demand.