AfricaPress-Tanzania: ONE of the major duties of the government is to ensure that its citizens live in peace as they go about their daily chores, and this includes seeing into that food supply chain remains unbroken.
To ensure peace and tranquility especially during this hard times of coronavirus pandemic and when Muslims are fasting in this Ramadan period, the government has all the reasons to be tough and uncompromising against any trader, who would deem it the appropriate time to mint extra coin at the expense of the situation.
Of late some dishonest traders have tried to raise the possibility of unnecessary panic buying and tension that there is a big sugar shortage, which in reality is not the case.
Actually, there is no good reason for the Covid-1 9 pandem ic to cause any food shortages, at least of sugar, wheat, rice, or other staples, because the virus isn’t foodborne.
Plenty of food continues to be produced, processed, and delivered despite the illnesses, and the consumers’ appetite hasn’t abruptly increased.
According to statistics released by Industry and Trade in this season, sugar production in the country as per the factories showed that Kilombero Sugar Co. Ltd targeted production was 120,1 8 3 tonnes, but they managed to produce 103 ,1 22 tonnes that is 85 . 8 per cent registered.
TPC Ltd targeted 90,81 5 tonnes as production, but they m anaged to raise 8 8 ,96 8 tonnes that is 98. 0per cent. Kagera Sugar Ltd targeted 95,000 tonnes as production, but m anaged to produce 79,4 03 that is 8 3 . 6 per cent.
Mtibwa Sugar Estates Ltd year end target was 33 ,5 1 3 , but they collected 20,7 05 tonnes that is 61 . 8 per cent.
Manyara Sugar C o. Ltd projected to produce 5,7 8 5 tonnes, but raised 6 ,7 5 0 tonnes that is 11 6 . 7 per cent, and in sum m ary the five factories targeted to produce 34 5 ,296 tonnes, but m anaged 298,94 9 tonnes that translates as 8 6 . 6 per cent.
With this in mind as well as no any shortage reason identified and recorded, why should there be artificial shortage if not hoarding as has been seen in the nationwide crack down and arrests of traders behind the crime?
This hoarding, which causes anger, resentment, and depression among family m em bers should not only be left in the hands of the government to fight, but every citizen should take it a responsibility and guard against profiteering and unjustified prices increase.
If a kilogramme of sugar should sell at 2,600/- why must it clim b to 4 ,5 00/- without authorities announcing officially?
This is wrong and robbing the public, whose custodian is the government. Even the Holy books do not allow unnecessary price increase of goods especially in this Ramadan session when people are fasting and praying to God.
