Relief as Rukwa residents get 33 tonnes of sugar

RUKWA: RESIDENTS of Rukwa Region may have breathed a sigh of relief following the arrival of first consignment of 33 tonnes of sugar to cushion the current demand and lower the price of the commodity that is hitting the ceiling high.

The offloading of the cargo from trucks in Sumbawanga town was done calmly and witnessed by Sumbawanga District officials and hundreds of citizens.

At the reception of the cargo, Sumbawanga District Commissioner Mr Nyakia Chirukie told journalists that the Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) has approved the allocation of 132 tonnes of sugar for Rukwa from sugar producers. He said that so far, the first consignment of 33 tonnes of sugar has arrived in Sumbawanga that the remaining consignment of 99 tonnes of sugar expects to arrive soon.

“The Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) has approved the consignment of 33 tonnes of sugar from Bagamoyo Sugar factory, the second and third consignment of sugar comprising a compound amount of 99 tonnes will arrive soon,” he added.

However, the DC could not make public when the remaining 99 tonnes of sugar will arrive in Sumbawanga or whether it was enough to quench the current demand.

The arrival of the commodity came on the wake of retail prices of sugar in retail shops in Sumbawanga town surging above the indicative prices fluctuating between 5,400/- and 6,000/- per kilo.

Moreover, the DC has warned traders in the district against price hikes of sugar on the pretext of shortage of the commodity in the markets.

“I will never hesitate to take legal measures against a few traders hiking sugar prices arbitrarily on the pretext of a shortage of the commodity in the market because it hurts the citizens. According to Mr Cherukie, as per the Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT), the indicative sugar prices for wholesale in Rukwa remain between 2,600/- to 2,800/- while the retail price is 3,200. “I urge traders in Sumbawanga, the retail price of sugar must not exceed 3,200/- per kilogramme short of that the defiant traders will face the wrath of the law,” she warned.

The SBT indicative sugar prices remain between 2,800/- to 3,200/- per kilogramme depending on the geographical location in Rukwa, Kigoma and Katavi Region wholesale price is between 2,600 and 2,800/- while the retail price is 3,200/-.