Tanzania lifts ban on sugar exports

ARUSHA, Tanzania, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has lifted a ban on importation of sugar with a view to curbing scarcity, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced Thursday.

The Tanzanian premier made the statement during the parliamentary session in the country's capital Dodoma when reacting to a question over the government's plans towards controlling the already increasing price of sugar in the country, ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan.

The government, according to Majaliwa, would help lower prices of the commodity, which has been elusive in the East African nation.

"The Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) is working on it and we have started importing sugar," Majaliwa said, assuring that there will be no scarcity of the sweetener.

The Tanzanian leader also directed the relevant authorities to ensure no price hike on commodities, especially sugar, as the holy month of Ramadhan approaches.

The PM maintained that there is a common trend by traders to increase prices of commodities during this time of the year but warned that whoever does that this year risks legal actions.

It is estimated that Tanzania's annual domestic sugar consumption is about 420,000 tonnes while local production is 320,000 tonnes. This leaves a deficit of about 100,000 tonnes a year to be made up by imports. Enditem