Tanzanian MPs have petitioned President John Magufuli to rescind a ban on sugar imports, citing a shortage of the commodity in the country.

But, in a new twist, anti-corruption officers questioned former Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Dr Mary Nagu, who chairs the Parliamentary Committee for Agriculture, Livestock and Water. No details of the meeting were available by press time.

After a meeting with officials from the Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) on March 24, her committee was informed that there was a sugar deficit of between 80,000 and 100,000 tonnes.

She asked the government to review its decision and order importation of sugar at the right time to plug the shortage.

President John Magufuli ordered government agencies to stop issuing permits to sugar importers, saying there were dishonest traders known to have been colluding with corrupt public servants to import sugar at the expense of local producers who have huge stocks of the commodity.

READ: Sweet news for Tanzania sugar firms as Magufuli controls imports

The Minister for Industry and Trade Charles Mwijage said Tanzania has adequate stocks of sugar for domestic consumption, adding that the government is determined to increase sugar industries in the country to create employment and safeguard local markets from imported sugar.

Four sugar factories, Kilombero Sugar Company Ltd, Mtibwa Sugar Estates Ltd, Kagera Sugar Ltd, and TPC Ltd are producing an average production of 300,000 tonnes of sugar annually.

Mr Mwijage warned that he would close down warehouses owned by sugar distributors who are proved to have hoarded the product.

There has been a growing demand for sugar for both domestic and industrial consumption in past years, the situation which attracted importers to order the commodity from Brazil, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Mozambique.

The current demand for sugar in Tanzania is estimated at 590,000 tonnes per annum out of which 420,000 tonnes is for direct domestic consumption while 170,000 tonnes is for industrial use.

Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) Director General Henry Semwaza allayed fears of sugar shortage in Tanzania and said that there is adequate stock of sugar.
Supporting the president’s ban, the Kagera Sugar operations manager Abel Magese said his factory has a good stock of the commodity.