Dodoma: Tanzania has lifted a ban on sugar imports six months after President John Magafuli’s embargo to ostensibly boost its production locally.
A critical shortage of sugar, and a spike in the price of the sweetener followed its import ban.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa however confirmed the lifting of the import embargo to alleviate its shortage.
“The Sugar Board of Tanzania is working on it and we have started importing sugar, so I would like to assure all Tanzanians that there will be no scarcity of the commodity,” Majaliwa told Parliamentarians.
Majaliwa insisted government will make a close follow-up to ensure that traders will not hike the prices.
Tanzania needs 450,000 tonnes of sugar per year, while the factories available in the country have a capacity to produce only 320,000 tonnes.
This means, there is a deficit of 130,000 tonnes each year.
