MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Some concerned Malawians complained that the scarcity of sugar in the country is because of companies that have been given a contract to distribute sugar from the Illovo company to the market.
According to them, the certified distributors tend to hide some sugar in their warehouses so that they sell it at a higher price.
They also said that Illovo Sugar Company should increase the number of distributors so that commodities must be on the market in large quantities.
“Each distributor is given authority to distribute sugar to more than three districts. That is where the problem of sugar scarcity starts,” they suggested.
The concerned Malawians including a renowned Karonga business tycoon Lenzo Kiyombo have also advised Illovo Sugar Company to reduce the period of its contract with the distributors.
“Each distributor must be given a one-year contract and not more than that as it is happening. They also need to be given to different people not the same so that all Malawians should take part in the business,” said Kiyombo.
Reacting to the development, Minister of Trade, Sosten Gwengwe said his ministry has engaged Trade Affairs officials as well as Illovo Sugar Company to iron out issues behind the sugar crisis in the country.
Speaking in a phone interview, Gwengwe said his ministry will urgently handle this issue.
While saying that contract issues are in the hands of the company, Gwengwe said his ministry will advise Illovo Sugar Company to iron out the complaints lodged by Malawians.
Illovo Sugar Company public relations officer, Maureen Kachingwe said the Ministry of Trade has the power to deal with distributors who are fond of hiding sugar.
But on issues of reducing the period of the contract, Kachingwe failed to highlight more saying “Contract issues are given to those who followed the company’s contract demand.”
Meanwhile, the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry not to sleep on this issue saying it has affected Malawians.
Addressing Journalists in Lilongwe on Friday morning, CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa warned that his organization will take this case seriously until sugar price is reduced and available in all markets.
Currently, the prices of sugar have gone as high as MK2,750 per 1-kilogram packet of sugar in some parts of the country.
